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Spatial changes in the stratospheric aerosol associated with the north polar vortex
Author(s) -
McCormick M. P.,
Trepte C. R.,
Kent G. S.
Publication year - 1983
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/gl010i010p00941
Subject(s) - polar vortex , aerosol , vortex , atmospheric sciences , polar , lidar , environmental science , altitude (triangle) , stratosphere , vorticity , potential vorticity , extinction (optical mineralogy) , physics , climatology , geology , meteorology , optics , astronomy , geometry , mathematics
In late January and early February 1983, observations made by the Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM II) satellite system showed that aerosol extinction profiles measured within the northern polar vortex differed significantly above 18 km from those measured outside the vortex. Values of the calculated optical depths above 18 km for February 1, 1983, are lower by approximately one order of magnitude within the polar vortex than those outside. Similar differences were found in the aerosol backscattering profiles obtained using an airborne lidar system when crossing the polar vortex. Since potential vorticity at a constant altitude is not conserved across the polar vortex, horizontal adiabatic transport does not occur.