Open AccessAura Microwave Limb Sounder observations of the polar middle atmosphere: Dynamics and transport of CO and H 2 O
Author(s) -
Lee Jae N.,
Wu Dong L.,
Manney Gloria L.,
Schwartz Michael J.,
Lambert Alyn,
Livesey Nathaniel J.,
Minschwaner Kenneth R.,
Pumphrey Hugh C.,
Read William G.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2010jd014608
Subject(s) - microwave limb sounder , stratosphere , polar vortex , mesosphere , atmospheric sciences , atmosphere (unit) , northern hemisphere , polar , geopotential , geopotential height , sudden stratospheric warming , environmental science , geology , physics , climatology , meteorology , astronomy , precipitation
The vertical structure and evolution of the wintertime annular modes are studied using 6 years of geopotential height, carbon monoxide (CO), and water vapor (H 2 O) data from Aura Microwave Limb Sounder. The Northern Hemisphere annular mode (NAM) and the Southern Hemisphere annular mode (SAM) reveal a strong coupling of the dynamics in the stratosphere and mesosphere between 316 hPa (∼9 km) and 0.002 hPa (∼90 km). CO is a good tracer throughout the middle atmosphere, while variable vertical gradients of H 2 O limit the regions where it is useful as a dynamical tracer. The maximum of the CO NAM and SAM (CNAM and CSAM) indices is used to monitor and characterize the evolution of wintertime polar dynamics as a function of time and height. The CNAM analysis reveals reformation of a stronger mesospheric polar vortex after significant stratospheric sudden warmings in 2006, 2009, and 2010. There is a significant anticorrelation between the mesospheric and stratospheric CNAM indices during 2005–2010 winters, supporting the hypothesis of mesosphere‐stratosphere coupling through planetary‐gravity wave interactions.