A climatology of frozen‐in anticyclones in the spring arctic stratosphere over the period 1960–2011

Thiéblemont, Rémi; Orsolini, Yvan; Hauchecorne, Alain; Drouin, Marc-Antoine; Huret, Nathalie

doi:10.1002/jgrd.50156

Cited by 10 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…NOGAPS-ALPHA is the high-altitude extension of the then operational Navy's weather forecast system up to about 90-92 km (Eckermann et al, 2009 . Then, in early April (Day 95) of that year, the largest FrIAC of the 36-year MERRA dataset was recorded (Allen et al, 2011;Thieblemont et al, 2013), causing a significant jump in upper stratospheric CH 4 . After the spring, there is a second period of decreasing CH 4 in the summer (most noticeable after day 200).…”

Section: The Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (Waccm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistence of upper stratospheric wintertime tracer variability into the Arctic spring and summer

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Using data from the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) and Aura satellites, we have categorized the interannual variability of winter-and springtime upper stratospheric methane (CH 4 ). We further show the effects of this variability on the chemistry of the upper stratosphere throughout the following summer. Years with strong wintertime mesospheric descent followed by dynamically quiet springs, such as 2009, lead to the lowest summertime CH 4 . Years with relatively weak wintertime descent, but strong springtime planetary wave activity, such as 2011, have the highest summertime CH 4 . By sampling the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) according to the occultation pattern of the AIM Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment (SOFIE), we show that summertime upper stratospheric chlorine monoxide (ClO) almost perfectly anticorrelates with the CH 4 . This is consistent with the reaction of atomic chlorine with CH 4 to form the reservoir species, hydrochloric acid (HCl). The summertime ClO for years with strong, uninterrupted mesospheric descent is about 50 % greater than in years with strong horizontal transport and mixing of high CH 4 air from lower latitudes. Small, but persistent effects on ozone are also seen such that between 1 and 2 hPa, ozone is about 4-5 % higher in summer for the years with the highest CH 4 relative to the lowest. This is consistent with the role of the chlorine catalytic cycle on ozone. These dependencies may offer a means to monitor dynamical effects on the high-latitude upper stratosphere using summertime ClO measurements as a proxy. Additionally, these chlorine-controlled ozone decreases, which are seen to maximize after years with strong uninterrupted wintertime descent, represent a new mechanism by which mesospheric descent can affect polar ozone. Finally, given that the effects on ozone appear to persist much of the rest of the year, the consideration of winter/spring dynamical variability may also be relevant in studies of ozone trends.

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Section: The Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (Waccm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistence of upper stratospheric wintertime tracer variability into the Arctic spring and summer

et al. 2016

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“…Waugh and Rong () also showed strong differences in the polar vortex mixing processes with midlatitude air in association with the SFW timing. More recently, Thiéblemont et al (, ) revealed that early SFWs are more likely to feature “Frozen‐In” anticyclone occurrences in spring and summer (Manney, Livesey, et al, ), which lead to anomalously high nitrous oxide and methane concentrations in the polar stratosphere. However, not only does the variability of SFW timing alter the stratospheric composition and circulation, but it is also associated with tropospheric anomalies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers and Surface Signal of Interannual Variability of Boreal Stratospheric Final Warmings

et al. 2019

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Springtime stratospheric final warming (SFW) variability has been suggested to be linked to the tropospheric circulation, particularly over the North Atlantic sector. These findings, however, are based on reanalysis data that cover a rather short period of time (1979 to present). The present work aims to improve the understanding of drivers, trends and surface impact of dynamical variability of boreal SFWs using chemistry‐climate models. We use multidecadal integrations of the fully coupled chemistry‐climate models Community Earth System Model version 1 (Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model) and ECHAM/Modular Earth Submodel System Atmospheric Chemistry‐O. Four sensitivity experiments are analyzed to assess the impact of external factors; namely, the quasi‐biennial oscillation, sea surface temperature (SST) variability, and anthropogenic emissions. SFWs are classified into two types with respect to their vertical development; that is, events which occur first in the midstratosphere (10‐hPa first SFWs) or first in the upper stratosphere (1‐hPa first SFWs). Our results confirm previous reanalysis results regarding the differences in the time evolution of stratospheric conditions and near‐surface circulation between 10 and 1‐hPa first SFWs. Additionally, a tripolar SST pattern is, for the first time, identified over the North Atlantic in spring months related to the SFW variability. Our analysis of the influence of remote modulators on SFWs revealed that the occurrence of major warmings in the previous winter favors the occurrence of 10‐hPa first SFWs later on. We further found that quasi‐biennial oscillation and SST variability significantly affect the ratio between 1‐hPa first and 10‐hPa first SFWs. Finally, our results suggest that ozone recovery may impact the timing of the occurrence of 1‐hPa first SFWs.

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“…In addition, two climatologies of FrIACs starting in 1979 [ Allen et al ., ] and 1960 [ Thiéblemont et al ., ] and based on MERRA (Modern Era‐Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications) and ECMWF ERA‐40/ERA‐Interim (European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Re‐Analysis) reanalyses, respectively, were performed. Despite the use of different reanalyses, transport models, and FrIAC detection algorithms, both studies revealed largely consistent results with common FrIACs identified in the springs of 1982, 1994, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thiéblemont et al . [] identified FrIACs by requiring low‐latitude air masses in the polar region (northward of 60°N) to be colocated with an anticyclonic eddy until, at least, the beginning of the shearing phase (see Thiéblemont et al . [] for a detailed discussion).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thiéblemont et al . [, ] also suggested that FrIACs preferentially occur in years without major sudden stratospheric warmings (mSSWs) in the previous winter and under the easterly phase of the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) in the tropical middle stratosphere (~10 hPa or 30 km). These findings are, however, challenged by the limited number of FrIACs that have been recorded in reanalyses and satellite observations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Poleward transport variability in the Northern Hemisphere during final stratospheric warmings simulated by CESM(WACCM)

et al. 2016

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Observational studies of Arctic stratospheric final warmings have shown that tropical/subtropical air masses can be advected to high latitudes and remain confined within a long‐lived “frozen‐in” anticyclone (FrIAC) for several months. It was suggested that the frequency of FrIACs may have increased since 2000 and that their interannual variability may be modulated by (i) the occurrence of major stratospheric warmings (mSSWs) in the preceding winter and (ii) the phase of the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO). In this study, we tested these observational‐based hypotheses for the first time using a chemistry climate model. Three 145 year sensitivity experiments were performed with the National Center of Atmospheric Research's Community Earth System Model (CESM): one control experiment including only natural variability, one with an extreme greenhouse gas emission scenario, and one without the QBO in the tropical stratosphere. In comparison with reanalysis, the model simulates a realistic frequency and characteristics of FrIACs, which occur under an abrupt and early winter‐to‐summer stratospheric circulation transition, driven by enhanced planetary wave activity. Furthermore, the model results support the suggestion that the development of FrIACs is favored by an easterly QBO in the middle stratosphere and by the absence of mSSWs during the preceding winter. The lower stratospheric persistence of background dynamical state anomalies induced by deep mSSWs leads to less favorable conditions for planetary waves to enter the high‐latitude stratosphere in April, which in turn decreases the probability of FrIAC development. Our model results do not suggest that climate change conditions (RCP8.5 scenario) influence FrIAC occurrences.

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A climatology of frozen‐in anticyclones in the spring arctic stratosphere over the period 1960–2011

Cited by 10 publications

References 38 publications

Persistence of upper stratospheric wintertime tracer variability into the Arctic spring and summer

Persistence of upper stratospheric wintertime tracer variability into the Arctic spring and summer

Drivers and Surface Signal of Interannual Variability of Boreal Stratospheric Final Warmings

Poleward transport variability in the Northern Hemisphere during final stratospheric warmings simulated by CESM(WACCM)

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