Sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperature
More than a decade ago it was suggested that a cooling of stratospheric temperatures by 1 K or an increase of 1 ppmv of stratospheric water vapour could promote denitrification, the permanent removal of nitrogen species from the stratosphere by solid polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) particles. In...
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doaj-67d1986e1dd44679b10b62ecc6b692a32020-11-24T21:45:41ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242016-01-011610112110.5194/acp-16-101-2016Sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperatureF. Khosrawi0F. Khosrawi1J. Urban2J. Urban3S. Lossow4G. Stiller5K. Weigel6P. Braesicke7M. C. Pitts8A. Rozanov9J. P. Burrows10D. Murtagh11Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Swedennow at: Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyDepartment of Earth and Space Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Swedendeceased, 14 August 2014Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyInstitute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyNASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, USAInstitute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, GermanyDepartment of Earth and Space Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SwedenMore than a decade ago it was suggested that a cooling of stratospheric temperatures by 1 K or an increase of 1 ppmv of stratospheric water vapour could promote denitrification, the permanent removal of nitrogen species from the stratosphere by solid polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) particles. In fact, during the two Arctic winters 2009/10 and 2010/11 the strongest denitrification in the recent decade was observed. Sensitivity studies along air parcel trajectories are performed to test how a future stratospheric water vapour (H<sub>2</sub>O) increase of 1 ppmv or a temperature decrease of 1 K would affect PSC formation. We perform our study based on measurements made during the Arctic winter 2010/11. Air parcel trajectories were calculated 6 days backward in time based on PSCs detected by CALIPSO (Cloud Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder satellite observations). The sensitivity study was performed on single trajectories as well as on a trajectory ensemble. The sensitivity study shows a clear prolongation of the potential for PSC formation and PSC existence when the temperature in the stratosphere is decreased by 1 K and water vapour is increased by 1 ppmv. Based on 15 years of satellite measurements (2000–2014) from UARS/HALOE, Envisat/MIPAS, Odin/SMR, Aura/MLS, Envisat/SCIAMACHY and SCISAT/ACE-FTS it is further investigated if there is a decrease in temperature and/or increase of water vapour (H<sub>2</sub>O) observed in the polar regions similar to that observed at midlatitudes and in the tropics. Performing linear regression analyses we derive from the Envisat/MIPAS (2002–2012) and Aura/MLS (2004–2014) observations predominantly positive changes in the potential temperature range 350 to 1000 K. The linear changes in water vapour derived from Envisat/MIPAS observations are largely insignificant, while those from Aura/MLS are mostly significant. For the temperature neither of the two instruments indicate any significant changes. Given the strong inter-annual variation observed in water vapour and particular temperature the severe denitrification observed in 2010/11 cannot be directly related to any changes in water vapour and temperature since the millennium. However, the observations indicate a clear correlation between cold winters and enhanced water vapour mixing ratios. This indicates a connection between dynamical and radiative processes that govern water vapour and temperature in the Arctic lower stratosphere.https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/101/2016/acp-16-101-2016.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
F. Khosrawi F. Khosrawi J. Urban J. Urban S. Lossow G. Stiller K. Weigel P. Braesicke M. C. Pitts A. Rozanov J. P. Burrows D. Murtagh |
spellingShingle |
F. Khosrawi F. Khosrawi J. Urban J. Urban S. Lossow G. Stiller K. Weigel P. Braesicke M. C. Pitts A. Rozanov J. P. Burrows D. Murtagh Sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperature Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
author_facet |
F. Khosrawi F. Khosrawi J. Urban J. Urban S. Lossow G. Stiller K. Weigel P. Braesicke M. C. Pitts A. Rozanov J. P. Burrows D. Murtagh |
author_sort |
F. Khosrawi |
title |
Sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperature |
title_short |
Sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperature |
title_full |
Sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperature |
title_fullStr |
Sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperature |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperature |
title_sort |
sensitivity of polar stratospheric cloud formation to changes in water vapour and temperature |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
issn |
1680-7316 1680-7324 |
publishDate |
2016-01-01 |
description |
More than a decade ago it was suggested that a cooling of stratospheric
temperatures by 1 K or an increase of 1 ppmv of stratospheric
water vapour could promote denitrification, the permanent removal of nitrogen
species from the stratosphere by solid polar stratospheric cloud (PSC)
particles. In fact, during the two Arctic winters 2009/10 and 2010/11 the
strongest denitrification in the recent decade was observed. Sensitivity
studies along air parcel trajectories are performed to test how a future
stratospheric water vapour (H<sub>2</sub>O) increase of 1 ppmv or
a temperature decrease of 1 K would affect PSC formation. We perform
our study based on measurements made during the Arctic winter 2010/11. Air
parcel trajectories were calculated 6 days backward in time based on
PSCs detected by CALIPSO (Cloud Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder
satellite observations). The sensitivity study was performed on single
trajectories as well as on a trajectory ensemble. The sensitivity study shows
a clear prolongation of the potential for PSC formation and PSC existence
when the temperature in the stratosphere is decreased by 1 K and
water vapour is increased by 1 ppmv. Based on 15 years of
satellite measurements (2000–2014) from UARS/HALOE, Envisat/MIPAS, Odin/SMR,
Aura/MLS, Envisat/SCIAMACHY and SCISAT/ACE-FTS it is further investigated if
there is a decrease in temperature and/or increase of water vapour
(H<sub>2</sub>O) observed in the polar regions similar to that observed at
midlatitudes and in the tropics. Performing linear regression analyses we
derive from the Envisat/MIPAS (2002–2012) and Aura/MLS (2004–2014)
observations predominantly positive changes in the potential temperature
range 350 to 1000 K. The linear changes in water vapour derived from
Envisat/MIPAS observations are largely insignificant, while those from
Aura/MLS are mostly significant. For the temperature neither of the two
instruments indicate any significant changes. Given the strong inter-annual
variation observed in water vapour and particular temperature the severe
denitrification observed in 2010/11 cannot be directly related to any changes
in water vapour and temperature since the millennium. However, the
observations indicate a clear correlation between cold winters and enhanced
water vapour mixing ratios. This indicates a connection between dynamical and
radiative processes that govern water vapour and temperature in the Arctic
lower stratosphere. |
url |
https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/101/2016/acp-16-101-2016.pdf |
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