The Role of Ozone Depletion in the Lack of Cooling in the Antarctic Upper Stratosphere during Austral Winter

Temperature trends in the upper stratosphere are investigated using satellite measurements from Stratospheric Sounding Unit(SSU)outputs and simulations from chemistry-climate models(CCMs)and the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6(CMIP6).Observational evidence shows a lack of cooling in the Antarctic,in contrast to strong cooling at other latitudes,during austral winter over 1979-97.Analysis of CCM simulations for a longer period of1961-97 also shows a significant contrast in the upper stratospheric temperature trends between the Antarctic and lower latitudes.Results from two sets of model integrations with fixed ozone-depleting substances(ODSs)and fixed greenhouse gases(GHGs)at their 1960 levels suggest that the ODSs have made a major contribution to the lack of cooling in the Antarctic upper stratosphere.Results from CMIP6 simulations with prescribed GHGs and ozone confirm that changes in the dynamical processes associated with observed ozone depletion are largely responsible for the lack of cooling in the Antarctic upper stratosphere.The lack of cooling is found to be dynamically induced through increased upward wave activity into the upper stratosphere,which is attributed mainly to ODSs forcing.Specifically,the radiative cooling caused by the ozone depletion results in a stronger meridional temperature gradient between middle and high latitudes in the upper stratosphere,allowing more planetary waves propagating upward to warm the Antarctic upper stratosphere.These findings improve our understanding of the chemistry-climate coupling in the southern upper stratosphere.

On the Temporal and Spatial Structure of Troposphere-toStratosphere Transport in the Lowermost Stratosphere over the Asian Monsoon Region during Boreal Summer

This study produced a novel characterization of the troposphere-to-stratosphere transport （TST） over the Asian monsoon region during boreal summer, using a comprehensive analysis of 60-day backward trajectories initialized in the stratosphere. The trajectory datasets were derived from the high-resolution Lagrangian particle dispersion model （FLEXPART） simulation driven by the wind fields acquired from the National Center for Environmental Prediction （NCEP）. The results indicate that the distribution of residence time （tTST） of tropopause-crossing trajectories in the lowermost stratosphere represents a horizontal signature of the Asian summer monsoon. Vertically, the distribution of tTST can be roughly separated into two layers： a consistent lower layer with tTST 〈5 days forming a narrow band, corresponding to a layer-3 km thick following the location of the tropopause, and an upper layer at a larger distance from the local tropopause. The maximum residence time was -20 days, especially within the Asian high anticyclone consistent with its confinement effects. In general, the overall geographical distribution of dehydration points was not coincident with the location of tropopause crossing. TST trajectories, which were initialized in the stratosphere, underwent their Lagrangian cold points mostly in the tropics and subtropics 1 4 days after the TST event; they were characterized by a wide range of temperature differences, with a mean value of 3-12 K. The vertical extent of the influence of tropospheric intrusion on the Asian monsoon region in the stratosphere exhibited a peak at -16.5-18.5 km, and the uppermost height was -21 km.

Parallel Comparison of the 1982/83,1997/98 and 2015/16 Super El Nios and Their Effects on the Extratropical Stratosphere

This study uses multiple sea surface temperature （SST） datasets to perform a parallel comparison of three super El Nifios and their effects on the stratosphere. The results show that, different from ordinary El Nifios, warm SST anomalies appear earliest in the western tropical Pacific and precede the super El Nifio peak by more than 18 months. In the previous winter, relative to the mature phase of El Nifio, as a precursor, North Pacific Oscillation-like circulation anomalies are observed. A Pacific-North America （PNA） teleconnection appears in the extratropical troposphere during the mature phase, in spite of the subtle differences between the intensities, as well as the zonal position, of the PNA lobes. Related to the negative rainfall response over the tropical Indian Ocean, the PNA teleconnection in the winter of 1997/98 is the strongest among the three super El Nifios. The northern winter stratosphere shows large anomalies in the polar cap temperature and the circumpolar westerly, if the interferences from other factors are linearly filtered from the circulation data. Associated with the positive PNA response in a super El Nino winter, positive polar cap temperature anomalies and circumpolar easterly anomalies, though different in timing, are also observed in the mature winters of the three super El Nifios. The stratospheric polar vortex in the next winter relative to the 1982/83 and 1997/98 events is also anomalously weaker and warmer, and the stratospheric circulation conditions remain to be seen in the coming winter following the mature phase of the 2015/16 event.

HCl Quasi-Biennial Oscillation in the Stratosphere and a Comparison with Ozone QBO

HALOE data from 1992 to 2003 are used to analyze the interannual variation of the HCl volume mixing ratio and its quasi-biennial oscillation （QBO） in the stratosphere, and the results are compared with the ozone QBO. Then, the NCAR two-dimensional interactive chemical, dynamical and radiative model is used to study the effects of the wind QBO on the distribution and variation of HCl in the stratosphere. The results show that the QBO signals in the HCl mixing ratio are mainly at altitudes from 50 hPa to 5 hPa; the larger amplitudes are located between 30 hPa and 10 hPa; a higher HCl mixing ratio usually corresponds to the westerly phase of the wind QBO and a lower HCl mixing ratio usually corresponds to the easterly phase of the wind QBO in a level near 20 hPa and below. In the layer near 10 hPa-5 hPa, the phase of the HCl QBO reverses earlier than the phase of the wind QBO; the QBO signals for HCl in the extratropics are also clear, but with reversed phase compared with those over the Tropics. The HCl QBO signals at 30°N are clearer than those at 30°S; the QBOs for HCl and ozone have a similar phase at the 50 hPa-20 hPa level while they are out of phase near 10 hPa; the simulated structures of the HCl QBO agree well with observations. The mechanism for the formation of the HCl QBO and the reason for differences in the vertical structure of the HCl and ozone QBO are attributed to the transport of HCl and ozone by the wind QBO-induced meridional circulation.

Arctic oscillation and the antarcic oscillation modes in the atmospheric stratosphere

On the basis of the EOF analysis of global geopotential height anomaly (GHA)field at 10 hPa level, the arctic oscillation (AO) and the means antarctic oscillation (AAO) can bedetected more obviously at the upper level of atmosphere than the AO or the AAO in surface layer.Unlike the hemisphere pattern of the AO and the AAO in the surface lager given by previous authors,the AO or the AAO in the stratosphere has its global features. The zonal oscillations—the SouthernOscillation (SO) and the north oscillation (NO) in atmospheric surface layer become less clear inthe upper air. The first mode (AO mode, abbreviated to AOM hereafter) and the second mode (AAO mode,abbreviated to AAOM hereafter) respectively have 41.47% and 27.04% of the total variancecontribution. The cumulative variance contribution of the first two modes reaches 68.51%. These twomodes are the main components for the interdecadal or decadal oscillation in the stratosphere. Inaddition, there still exist two kinds of oscillation patterns with less probability, namely, thesymmetric pattern at mid-high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere and the asymmetric pattern.Spectral analysis shows that the AOM and the AAOM all have a spectral peak for 22 a period, beingconsistent with the periodic variations of the solar magnetic field, and a peak for 11 a period,being consistent with the period of the numbers of sunspots. Step filter analysis shows that theinfluencing factor for the upper atmospheric oscillation is the solar activity. The fluctuation ofthe solar magnetic field is the more influencing factor than the variation of the sunspot number.

The Impact of Cut-off Lows on Ozone in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere over Changchun from Ozonesonde Observations

In situ measurements of the vertical structure of ozone were made in Changchun （43.53°N, 125.13°E）, China, by the Institute of Atmosphere Physics, in the summers of 2010-13. Analysis of the 89 validated ozone profiles shows the vari- ation of ozone concentration in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere （UTLS） caused by cut-off lows （COLs） over Changchun. During the COL events, an increase of the ozone concentration and a lower height of the tropopause are observed. Backward simulations with a trajectory model show that the ozone-rich airmass brought by the COL is from Siberia. A case study proves that stratosphere-troposphere exchange （STE） occurs in the COL. The ozone-rich air mass transported from the stratosphere to the troposphere first becomes unstable, then loses its high ozone concentration. This process usually happens during the decay stage of COLs. In order to understand the influence of COLs on the ozone in the UTLS, statistical analysis of the ozone profiles within COLs, and other profiles, are employed. The results indicate that the ozone concentrations of the in-COL profiles are significantly higher than those of the other profiles between ±4 km around the tropopause. The COLs induce an increase in UTLS column ozone by 32% on average. Meanwhile, the COLs depress the lapse-rate tropopause （LRT）/dynamical tropopause height by 1.4/1.7 km and cause the atmosphere above the tropopause to be less stable. The influence of COLs is durable because the increased ozone concentration lasts at least one day after the COL has passed over Changchun. Furthermore, the relative coefficient between LRT height and lower stratosphere （LS） column ozone is -0.62, which implies a positive correlation between COL strength and LS ozone concentration.

Kinetic Analysis of Vectored Electric Propulsion System for Stratosphere Airship

To enhance the controllability of stratosphere airship,a vectored electric propulsion system is used.By using the Lagrangian method,a kinetic model of the vectored electric propulsion system is established and validated through ground tests.The fake gyroscopic torque is first proposed,which the vector mechanism should overcome besides the inertial torque and the gravitational torque.The fake gyroscopic torque is caused by the difference between inertial moments about two principal inertial axes of the propeller in the rotating plane,appears only when the propeller is rotating and is proportional with the rotation speed.It is a sinusoidal pulse,with a frequency that is twice of the rotation speed.Considering the fake gyroscope torque pulse and aerodynamic efficiency,three blade propeller is recommended for the vectored propulsion system used for stratosphere airship.

Observed Long-and Short-lived North Atlantic Oscillation Events:Role of the Stratosphere

Utilizing three different sets of reanalysis data,this study examines the long-and short-lived observed positive North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO)events(referred to as NAO+_LE and NAO+_SE)and long-and short-lived observed negative NAO events(referred to as NAO−_LE and NAO−_SE).Composite results indicate that the NAO-like circulation anomalies associated with the long-lived NAO events can reach the stratosphere,while they are primarily confined to the troposphere in the short-lived NAO events.Thus,the coupling/connection of stratospheric and tropospheric circulation anomalies is much better(worse)in the long-lived(short-lived)NAO events.A series of modified stratospheric initial-value experiments conducted with a simplified model indicate that a better(worse)connection between stratospheric and tropospheric circulation anomalies in the initial-value fields tend to gradually induce the NAO-like tropospheric circulation anomalies in the troposphere on the subsequent days,and thus naturally elongate(reduce)the lifetimes of the original NAO events by altering the tropospheric synoptic eddy vorticity flux over the North Atlantic region.

Study on the Trace Species in the Stratosphere and Their Impact on Climate

The trace gases （O3, HCl, CH4, H2O, NO, NO2） in the stratosphere play an important role, not only in the photochemical processes in which the ozone layer destroyed, but also in the radiative processes. In this paper, we review the works on the distribution and variation of the trace gases in the stratosphere and their impact on climate, which have been carried out at the University of Science and Technology of China in the recent 20 years. The Halogen Occultation Experiment （HALOE） data were used to analyse the distribution and variation of the mixing ratio of these trace gases and the temperature trends in the stratosphere in the most recent decade. And the reanalyzed National Centers of Environmental Prediction （NCEP）/NCAR data were also used to give the temperature trends and compared with the results from HALOE data. Numerical simulations were also carried out to study the impact of ozone depletion on the global climate. In this review, the distributions of the trace gases, especially those over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, are discussed, and the variations and trends for the trace gases in various levels in the stratosphere have been given for the most recent decade. The temperature variation and the cooling trend obtained from HALOE data in the middle and lower stratosphere for the last 13 years are significant, which agree well with the results from NCEP/NCAR data. While the temperature trend in the upper stratosphere in this period do not seem to have much cooling. The numerical simulations show that either the Antarctic ozone hole or the ozone valley over Qinghai-Xizang Plateau affect not only the temperature and circulation in the stratosphere, but also the temperature, pressure and wind fields in the troposphere, then lead to the global climate change.

A multi-location joint field observation of the stratosphere and troposphere over the Tibetan Plateau

The unique geographical location and high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau can greatly influence regional weather and climate.In particular, the Asian summer monsoon(ASM) anticyclone circulation system over the Tibetan Plateau is recognized to be a significant transport pathway for water vapor and pollutants to enter the stratosphere. To improve understanding of these physical processes, a multi-location joint atmospheric experiment was performed over the Tibetan Plateau from late July to August in 2018, funded by the fiveyear(2018–2022) STEAM(stratosphere and troposphere exchange experiment during ASM) project, during which multiple platforms/instruments—including long-duration stratospheric balloons, dropsondes, unmanned aerial vehicles, special sounding systems, and ground-based and satellite-borne instruments—will be deployed. These complementary methods of data acquisition are expected to provide comprehensive atmospheric parameters(aerosol, ozone, water vapor, CO_2, CH_4, CO, temperature, pressure,turbulence, radiation, lightning and wind); the richness of this approach is expected to advance our comprehension of key mechanisms associated with thermal, dynamical, radiative, and chemical transports over the Tibetan Plateau during ASM activity.

Variation of Zonal Winds in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere in Association with Deficient and Excess Indian Summer Monsoon Scenario

The Indian summer monsoon is one of the most dominant tropical circulation systems in the general circulation of the atmosphere. The country receives more than 80% of the annual rainfall during a short span of four months (June to September) of the southwest monsoon season. Variability in the quantum of rainfall during the monsoon season has profound impacts on water resources, power generation, agriculture, economics and ecosystems in the country. The inter annual variability of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) depends on atmospheric and oceanic conditions prevailed during the season. In this study we have made an attempt to understand the variation of the of zonal winds in the tropical Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere (UT/LS) region during deficient and Excess rainfall years of Indian summer monsoon and its relation to Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR). It is found that in the equatorial Upper Troposphere zonal winds have westerly anomalies during deficient rainfall year’s and easterly anomaly during excess rainfall years of Indian summer monsoon and opposite zonal wind anomaly is noted in the equatorial Lower Stratosphere during the deficient and excess rainfall years of Indian summer monsoon. It is also found that the June to September upper troposphere zonal winds averaged between 15°N and 15°S latitudes have a long-term trend during 1960 to 1998. Over this period the tropical easterlies and the tropical jet stream have weakened with time.

Probability Distribution Function of a Forced Passive Tracer in the Lower Stratosphere

The probability distribution function （PDF） of a passive tracer, forced by a ＂mean gradient＂, is studied. First, we take two theoretical approaches, the Lagrangian and the conditional closure formalisms, to study the PDFs of such an externally forced passive tracer. Then, we carry out numerical simulations for an idealized random flow on a sphere and for European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts （ECMWF） stratospheric winds to test whether the mean-gradient model can be applied to studying stratospheric tracer mixing in midlatitude surf zones, in which a weak and poleward zonal-mean gradient is maintained by tracer leakage through polar and tropical mixing barriers, and whether the PDFs of tracer fluctuations in midlatitudes are consistent with the theoretical predictions. The numerical simulations show that when diffusive dissipation is balanced by the mean-gradient forcing, the PDF in the random flow and the Southern-Hemisphere PDFs in ECMWF winds show time-invariant exponential tails, consistent with theoretical predictions. In the Northern Hemisphere, the PDFs exhibit non-Gaussian tails. However, the PDF tails are not consistent with theoretical expectations. The long-term behavior of the PDF tails of the forced tracer is compared to that of a decaying tracer. It is found that the PDF tails of the decaying tracer are time-dependent, and evolve toward flatter than exponential.

Observations of Dynamic Turbulence in the Lower Stratosphere over Inner Mongolia Using a High-resolution Balloon Sensor Constant Temperature Anemometer

We present characterizations of the dynamic turbulence in the lower stratosphere measured by a new balloon-based system designed for detecting finer scale dynamic turbulence. The balloon-based system included a constant temperature anemometer(CTA) operating at a sampling rate of 2 k Hz at an ascent speed of 5 m s^(-1)(corresponding to a vertical resolution of 2.5 mm), an industrial personal computer, batteries, sensors for ambient temperature and humidity, an A/D converter, and others. The system was successfully launched to 24 km altitude over Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia Province. Results show the spatial intermittence of the turbulence layers, with clear boundaries between turbulent and nonturbulent regions. This is the first time that the dynamic turbulence spectrum down to the viscous sub-range has been obtained throughout the lower stratosphere over China. With that, the energy dissipation rates of dynamic turbulence could be calculated with high precision. The profile of the dissipation rates varied from 7.37 × 10^(-7) to 4.23 W kg^(-1) and increased with altitude in the stratosphere.

The Ozone, Aerosol Depletion and Condensation Nuclei Events in the Stratosphere

Recently, the depletion in ozone and aerosol extinctions inside Antarctic Spring westerly vortex and condensation nuclei enhancement events in the mid latitudes stratosphere were related to downward transport of aerosols by subsidence and sedimentation. However, the problems associated with such hypothesis would keep a constraint on photochemical theories on ozone hole and stratospheric condensation nuclei (CN) events. Alternately, the gross features of aerosol hole are better explicable assuming a reversed residual circulation. This opens a path for combined operation on ozone by both photochemistry and dynamics in the same space domain.Independently, we relate the CN events to the growth and transport of negative ion complexes above the Peak of Junge Layer (PJL) without invoking photochemistry in order to be consistant with the observed interhemispheric differences in the planetary wave activity and CN concentration.

Numerical Modeling of the Influence of the Relief of a Planet on the Global Circulation of the Earth’s Stratosphere and Mesosphere

An investigation of the influence of the relief of a planet on the global circulation of the Earth’s atmosphere is an important problem. Beyond doubt, mountains affect the global circulation of the troposphere, however, their influence on the global circulation of the stratosphere and mesosphere is not evident. In the present study, to investigate the influence of the relief of a planet on the global circulation of the Earth’s stratosphere and mesosphere, the non-hydrostatic mathematical model, developed earlier in the Polar Geophysical Institute, is utilized. Calculations were made for two distinct cases. The relief of the planet was taken into account for the first case. Unlike, the Earth’s surface was assumed to be smooth for the second case. Simulations were performed for the winter period in the northern hemisphere (January). Simulation results, obtained for both considered cases, are qualitatively similar at the levels of stratosphere and mesosphere, however, some noticeable distinctions exist. The horizontal domains exist, where the simulated horizontal and vertical components of the neutral wind velocity, obtained for two considered cases, differ noticeably at the levels of the stratosphere and mesosphere. Some of these horizontal domains are not connected with positions of mountains at the Earth’s surface. On the contrary, some of these horizontal domains are situated above mountains.

Relationship between the Interannual Variations of Total Ozone in the Northern Hemisphere and the QBO of Basic Flow in the Tropical Stratosphere

The harmonic analyses of monthly mean total ozone in the atmosphere over the Northern Hemisphere for 26 years (1960-1985) are made by using the Fourier expansion. The analysed results show that there is obviously a quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in the interannual variations of the amplitudes of total ozone. Generally, the amplitudes of wavenumber 1 and 2 during the westerly of the equatorial QBO are larger than those during the easterly. In the early winter, the amplitude of wavenumber 1 during the easterly phase is larger, and in the late winter, it is larger during the westerly phase. These are in good agreement with the observational distributions.

Decadal Variation of the Impact of La Nina on the Winter Arctic Stratosphere

The impact of La Ni?a on the winter Arctic stratosphere has thus far been an ambiguous topic of research. Contradictory results have been reported depending on the La Ni?a events considered. This study shows that this is mainly due to the decadal variation of La Ni?a’s impact on the winter Arctic stratosphere since the late 1970 s. Specifically,during the period1951–78,the tropospheric La Ni?a teleconnection exhibits a typical negative Pacific–North America pattern,which strongly inhibits the propagation of the planetary waves from the extratropical troposphere to the stratosphere,and leads to a significantly strengthened stratospheric polar vortex. In contrast,during 1979–2015,the La Ni?a teleconnection shifts eastwards,with an anomalous high concentrated in the northeastern Pacific. The destructive interference of the La Ni?a teleconnection with climatological stationary waves seen in the earlier period reduces greatly,which prevents the drastic reduction of planetary wave activities in the extratropical stratosphere. Correspondingly,the stratospheric response shows a less disturbed stratospheric polar vortex in winter.

Simulation of the Effect of Water-vapor Increase on Temperature in the Stratosphere

To analyze the mechanism by which water vapor increase leads to cooling in the stratosphere, the effects of water-vapor increases on temperature in the stratosphere were simulated using the two-dimensional, interactive chemical dynamical radiative model （SOCRATES） of NCAR. The results indicate that increases in stratospheric water vapor lead to stratospheric cooling, with the extent of cooling increasing with height, and that cooling in the middle stratosphere is stronger in Arctic regions. Analysis of the radiation process showed that infrared radiative cooling by water vapor is a pivotal factor in middle-lower stratospheric cooling. However, in the upper stratosphere （above 45 km）, infrared radiation is not a factor in cooling; there, cooling is caused by the decreased solar radiative heating rate resulting from ozone decrease due to increased stratospheric water vapor. Dynamical cooling is important in the middle-upper stratosphere, and dynamical feedback to temperature change is more distinct in the Northern Hemisphere middle-high latitudes than in other regions and signiffcantly affects temperature and ozone in winter over Arctic regions. Increasing stratospheric water vapor will strengthen ozone depletion through the chemical process. However, ozone will increase in the middle stratosphere. The change in ozone due to increasing water vapor has an important effect on the stratospheric temperature change.

Study on Horizontal Relative Diffusion in theTroposphere and Lower Stratosphere

The behaviour of relative diffusion theory and Gifford’s random-force theory for long-range atmospheric diffusion is examined. When a puff scale is smaller than the Lagrangian length scale, √2KTL, an accelerative relative diffusion region exists, i.e., σy∝ t 3/2. While the puff diffusion enters a two-dimensional turbulence region, in which the diffusion scale is larger than 500 km, or time scale is larger than 1 day, divergence and convergence are main cause of horizontal diffusion. Between the two above-mentioned regimes, diffusion deviation is given by σy = √2KT. The large-scale horizontal relative diffusion parameters were obtained by analyzing the data of radioactive cloud width collected in air nuclear tests. Key words Tropospheric and lower stratospheric diffusion - Relative diffusion - Large scale turbulence - Nuclear explosion clouds This work is sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 49505064.The author would like to thank Prof. Chen Jiayi Department of Geophysics of Peking University and Dr. Cai Xiaoming School of Geography and Environmental Sciences of Birmingham University for their helpful discussions.

Representation of the Stratospheric Circulation in CRA-40 Reanalysis:The Arctic Polar Vortex and the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation

The representation of the Arctic stratospheric circulation and the quasi-biennial oscillation(QBO)during the period 1981–2019 in a 40-yr Chinese global reanalysis dataset(CRA-40)is evaluated by comparing two widely used reanalysis datasets,ERA-5 and MERRA-2.CRA-40 demonstrates a comparable performance with ERA-5 and MERRA-2 in characterizing the winter and spring circulation in the lower and middle Arctic stratosphere.Specifically,differences in the climatological polar-mean temperature and polar night jet among the three reanalyses are within±0.5 K and±0.5 m s^(–1),respectively.The onset dates of the stratospheric sudden warming and stratospheric final warming events at 10 hPa in CRA-40,together with the dynamics and circulation anomalies during the onset process of warming events,are nearly identical to the other two reanalyses with slight differences.By contrast,the CRA-40 dataset demonstrates a deteriorated performance in describing the QBO below 10 hPa compared to the other two reanalysis products,manifested by the larger easterly biases of the QBO index,the remarkably weaker amplitude of the QBO,and the weaker wavelet power of the QBO period.Such pronounced biases are mainly concentrated in the period 1981–98 and largely reduced by at least 39%in 1999–2019.Thus,particular caution is needed in studying the QBO based on CRA-40.All three reanalyses exhibit greater disagreement in the upper stratosphere compared to the lower and middle stratosphere for both the polar region and the tropics.