Premium
Laminae in the tropical middle stratosphere: Origin and age estimation
Author(s) -
Jost H.,
Loewenstein M.,
Pfister L.,
Margitan J. J.,
Chang A. Y.,
Salawitch R. J.,
Michelsen H. A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1998gl900153
Subject(s) - stratosphere , tropics , latitude , atmospheric sciences , climatology , rossby wave , environmental science , geology , geodesy , biology , ecology
In situ measurements of N 2 O and O 3 aboard the Observations from the Middle Stratosphere (OMS) balloon payload in the tropics are presented. In November 1997 at 7°S very distinct laminated structures in the N 2 O profile were observed in contrast to earlier studies based solely on O 3 profiles. The laminae probably are an observation of Rossby wave‐breaking events that lead to transport of mid‐latitude air into the tropics. Using a photochemical model of the ozone response within those air parcels, their residence time in the tropics is estimated to be 4 to 6 weeks. In February 1997 at 7°S a similar vertical profile of N 2 O revealed no mid‐latitude laminae. We present dynamical arguments to support the existence of such laminae in November, but not in February.