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Sensitivity of the quasi‐biennial oscillation to CO 2 doubling
Author(s) -
Giorgetta Marco A.,
Doege Martin C.
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1029/2004gl021971
Subject(s) - quasi biennial oscillation , oscillation (cell signaling) , troposphere , climatology , upwelling , atmospheric sciences , wavenumber , gravitational wave , environmental science , stratosphere , range (aeronautics) , gravity wave , physics , geology , astrophysics , chemistry , materials science , oceanography , biochemistry , optics , composite material
The quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) is a major oscillation with a characteristic period of 28 months that influences substantially the stratospheric circulation and chemistry. This exploratory study investigates its possible change by direct simulation of the QBO in a doubled CO 2 climate for a range of gravity wave sources. It is found that a QBO spin‐up is likely. In the most extreme case the period is nearly halved. Important accelerating factors are the decreased tropical upwelling and increased gravity wave drag, while increased filtering of eastward gravity waves in the upper tropical troposphere acts as a decelerating factor.