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Tropospheric–stratospheric coupling: Extratropical synoptic systems in the lower stratosphere
Author(s) -
Canziani Pablo O.,
Legnani Walter E.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1256/qj.01.109
Subject(s) - stratosphere , extratropical cyclone , geopotential height , troposphere , synoptic scale meteorology , climatology , atmospheric sciences , middle latitudes , environmental science , zonal flow (plasma) , geopotential , latitude , meteorology , geology , geography , precipitation , physics , geodesy , plasma , quantum mechanics , tokamak
Synoptic‐scale disturbances, existing in the lower stratosphere of middle to high southern latitudes and linked to tropospheric synoptic systems, are reviewed. Geopotential and wind fields show that synoptic‐scale perturbations exist in the re‐analysis products of the US National Center for Environmental Prediction, at least up to the 50 hPa level. A spatial spectral approach is used to demonstrate the existence of sizeable, episodic synoptic‐scale perturbations throughout the lower stratosphere. The extension of synoptic systems from the troposphere into the lower stratosphere at high and mid latitudes, during early spring is discussed, using two case‐studies. The background conditions given by the mean zonal flow, modulated by planetary‐scale waves, appear to provide the limiting conditions for such penetration, which would have been theoretically impossible if the zonal mean flow alone were considered. The results are discussed under a simple generalization of the Charney–Drazin limits to wave propagation. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society.