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Transport of Mt. Pinatubo aerosol by tropospheric synoptic‐scale and stratospheric planetary‐scale waves
Author(s) -
Rogers H. L.,
Norton W. A.,
Lambert A.,
Grainger R. G.
Publication year - 1998
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.49712454509
Subject(s) - stratosphere , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , aerosol , troposphere , climatology , advection , latitude , jet stream , northern hemisphere , geology , meteorology , jet (fluid) , geography , physics , geodesy , thermodynamics
The isentropic transport of stratospheric air from the tropics into nothern hemisphere mid‐latitudes is examined using Mt. Pinatubo aerosol observed by the Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS). The technique of contour advection is used to produce high‐resolution aerosol fields which are used to help diagnose transport processes. By sampling the high‐resolution contour‐advection fields at the satellite measurement points, we show that the small‐scale information present in the contour‐advection calculation is consistent with the ISAMS measurement. Result of this study indicate that transport from the tropics into mid‐latitudes is strongly dependent on altitude. In the lowest regions of the stratosphere, the upward influence of the subtropical jet and the synoptic‐scale waves that form on the storm tracks are important in transporting air from the tropics and in the distribution of aerosol in mid‐latitudes. Synodpitc‐scale spirals form in the aerosol field on the 500 K isentrope at the end of storm tracks associated with LC1 baroclinic life‐cycle behaviour. At altitudes near the 600 K isentrope, direct tropospheric effects diminish and intrusions of air from the tropics to mid‐latitudes weaken. At altitudes approaching the middle stratosphere, planetary‐wave activity becomes stronger and the associated displacements of the polar vortex to low latitudes produce trasport from the tropics, particularly during mid‐winter warming events.