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A coherence between the QBO and the amplitude of the Mauna Loa atmospheric transmission annual cycle
Author(s) -
Dutton Ellsworth G.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.3370120406
Subject(s) - quasi biennial oscillation , environmental science , troposphere , climatology , atmospheric sciences , annual cycle , amplitude , atmosphere (unit) , oscillation (cell signaling) , transmission (telecommunications) , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , meteorology , geography , geology , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics , biology , electrical engineering , genetics
The transmission of direct solar radiation through the atmosphere above Mauna Loa, Hawaii, is shown to have a quasi‐biennial cyclic component that is coherent with the well‐known tropical stratospheric quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO). The QBO‐related signal in the 32‐year transmission record is manifested as an oscillation in the amplitude of the annual cycle. The transmission annual cycle is known to be caused by seasonal transport of Asian continental dust to and over the island of Hawaii. Variations in water vapour and ozone are eliminated as possible influences in the transmission‐QBO relationship, leaving aerosols as the source of the oscillation. The ultimate cause for the quasi‐biennial signal in the transmission record is unknown. Small but cyclic modifications to the tropospheric energy budget occur as a result of the transmission variations. The magnitude of the energy budget variations are less than those typically expected to have a significant climatic impact.