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Stratospheric thermal damping times
Author(s) -
Newman Paul A.,
Rosenfield Joan E.
Publication year - 1997
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 - 10.1029/96gl03720
Subject(s) - stratosphere , atmospheric sciences , radiative transfer , environmental science , latitude , range (aeronautics) , thermal , middle latitudes , climatology , physics , meteorology , materials science , geology , quantum mechanics , astronomy , composite material
Radiative damping of stratospheric temperature waves has wide implications for stratospheric physical processes. Damping is linearly parameterized as proportional to the local temperature. Thermal damping is calculated using the Goddard radiative transfer model and 17 years observations. Damping times of stratospheric temperatures are calculated for each month at all latitudes. These damping times are consistent with previous stratospheric estimates, but show shorter tropical time scales. Damping times range from an annual global average of 28 days (100 hPa) to 4 days (1 hPa). A considerable annual cycle is seen over much of the stratosphere, which is directly related to the annual cycle of temperatures, with longer damping times associated with colder temperatures.