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Monitoring the vertical structure of the Arctic Polar Vortex over northern Scandinavia during EASOE: Regular N 2 O profile observations
Author(s) -
Bauer Reimar,
Engel Andreas,
Franken Herbert,
Klein Erich,
Kulessa Gerhard,
Schiller Cornelius,
Schmidt Ulrich,
Borchers Reinhard,
Lee Julia
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1029/93gl01053
Subject(s) - polar vortex , atmospheric sciences , subsidence , arctic , stratosphere , polar night , diabatic , vortex , mixing ratio , geology , polar , altitude (triangle) , the arctic , climatology , environmental science , meteorology , oceanography , physics , geometry , geomorphology , astronomy , mathematics , structural basin , adiabatic process , thermodynamics
Different whole air samplers were flown on large balloons launched from Kiruna (67.9°N; 21.1°E) in the period from 30 November 1991 until 20 March 1992. Thirteen vertical profiles of the N 2 O mixing ratio were obtained from the analyses of the stratospheric air samples collected at altitudes between about 10 km and 31 km. The series of profile observations illustrates the temporal variation of the vertical structure of the Arctic polar vortex over Northern Scandinavia during EASOE. Already by mid December the N 2 O mixing ratios observed at the 600 K isentropic level (about 24–25 km) were as low as 20 ppbv, due to the effect of diabatic subsidence. In December subsidence rates of about 100–180 m/day were observed. Dynamic wave activity at the edge of the vortex led to significant sideways erosion at lower altitudes. However, inside the vortex, at altitudes above 600 K, N 2 O mixing ratios of less than 10 ppbv were observed until the end of March.