Premium
Transfer through the tropopause and within the stratosphere
Author(s) -
Newell R. E.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49708938002
Subject(s) - stratosphere , tropopause , atmospheric sciences , eddy , troposphere , jet stream , environmental science , middle latitudes , eddy covariance , climatology , flux (metallurgy) , latitude , jet (fluid) , geology , meteorology , physics , mechanics , chemistry , turbulence , ecology , organic chemistry , geodesy , ecosystem , biology
Abstract The evidence for tropospheric‐stratospheric mass exchange is reviewed. A large fraction of the exchange appears to occur in the vicinity of the middle latitude tropopause discontinuity and the concomitant jet stream. Calculations of the flux of radioactive substances in the troposphere support this view. Computations of the horizontal flux of ozone in the lower stratosphere are presented for the I.G.Y. period divided into three‐month seasons. Indications are that the large‐scale quasi‐horizontal transient eddies can transport ozone polewards in sufficient quantities to account for the spring build‐up of ozone. Such large‐scale mixing, as opposed to mean meridional motions, also allows explanation of the distribution of radioactive tungsten in the stratosphere. Transports appear to be polewards and downwards between latitudes 20° and 60°. Independent meteorological evidence, in the form of isentropic cross‐sections and values of the covariance between the meridional and vertical components of the wind, support the mixing scheme. The observed counter‐gradient eddy flux of heat can be explained from the model. Distributions of certain other trace substances are not at variance with the model. From a preliminary examination of the angular momentum transport processes up to 60 km it appears that transient eddies are also important to these levels but there is not yet sufficient global coverage to evaluate the contributions due to mean motions and standing eddies.