Recent variability of the tropical tropopause inversion layer

Wang, Wuke; Matthes, Katja; Schmidt, T.; Neef, Lisa

doi:10.1002/2013gl058350

Cited by 31 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The warming in the TTL is 0.9 K decade −1 on average, with a maximum of about 1.8 K decade −1 directly at the tropical tropopause around 17 to 18 km. This figure is an extension of earlier work by Schmidt et al (2010) and Wang et al (2013) and shows an unexpected warming, despite the steady increase in GHGs. Therefore it is interesting to study whether this warming is simply a phenomenon of the past decade and the result of internal atmospheric variability, or whether it will persist for longer and therefore modify trace gas transport from the troposphere into the stratosphere.…”

Section: Forcings In Observations and Model Simulationssupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Over the past decade, a remarkable warming has been captured by Global Positioning System Radio Occultation (GPS-RO) data in the TTL region (Schmidt et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2013). This might indicate a climate change signal, with possible important impacts on stratospheric climate: e.g.…”

Section: W Wang Et Al: Contributions To Recent Ttl Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on model simulations, Wang et al (2013) suggested that the warming around the tropical tropopause could be a result of a weaker tropical upwelling, which implies a weakening of the Brewer-Dobson circulation (BDC). However, the strengthening or weakening of the BDC is still under debate (Butchart, 2014, and references therein).…”

Section: W Wang Et Al: Contributions To Recent Ttl Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beside the standard version with 66 vertical levels (W_L66), we have also performed simulations with a finer vertical resolution, with 103 vertical levels and about 300 m vertical resolution in the TTL and lower stratosphere (W_L103) (Gettelman and Birner, 2007;Wang et al, 2013).…”

Section: Waccm Atmospheric Stand-alone Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figure 2 shows the latitude-height section of the linear temperature trends for the period 2001-2011 estimated from GPS-RO observations (see details of the GPS-RO data in Wang et al, 2013). A remarkable and statistically significant warming occurs around the TTL between about 20 • south to north and from 16 to 21 km height.…”

Section: Forcings In Observations and Model Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying contributions to the recent temperature variability in the tropical tropopause layer

2015

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Abstract. The recently observed variability in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL), which features a warming of 0.9 K over the past decade (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011), is investigated with a number of sensitivity experiments from simulations with NCAR's CESM-WACCM chemistry-climate model. The experiments have been designed to specifically quantify the contributions from natural as well as anthropogenic factors, such as solar variability (Solar), sea surface temperatures (SSTs), the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), stratospheric aerosols (Aerosol), greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the dependence on the vertical resolution in the model. The results show that, in the TTL from 2001 through 2011, a cooling in tropical SSTs leads to a weakening of tropical upwelling around the tropical tropopause and hence relative downwelling and adiabatic warming of 0.3 K decade −1 ; stronger QBO westerlies result in a 0.2 K decade −1 warming; increasing aerosols in the lower stratosphere lead to a 0.2 K decade −1 warming; a prolonged solar minimum contributes about 0.2 K decade −1 to a cooling; and increased GHGs have no significant influence. Considering all the factors mentioned above, we compute a net 0.5 K decade −1 warming, which is less than the observed 0.9 K decade −1 warming over the past decade in the TTL. Two simulations with different vertical resolution show that, with higher vertical resolution, an extra 0.8 K decade −1 warming can be simulated through the last decade compared with results from the "standard" low vertical resolution simulation. Model results indicate that the recent warming in the TTL is partly caused by stratospheric aerosols and mainly due to internal variability, i.e. the QBO and tropical SSTs. The vertical resolution can also strongly influence the TTL temperature response in addition to variability in the QBO and SSTs.

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Section: Forcings In Observations and Model Simulationssupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: W Wang Et Al: Contributions To Recent Ttl Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: W Wang Et Al: Contributions To Recent Ttl Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Waccm Atmospheric Stand-alone Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Forcings In Observations and Model Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Quantifying contributions to the recent temperature variability in the tropical tropopause layer

2015

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The interaction between the tropopause inversion layer and the inertial gravity wave activities revealed by radiosonde observations at a midlatitude station

Zhang

Huang

et al. 2015

JGR Atmospheres

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The interaction between the tropopause inversion layer (TIL) and the inertial gravity wave (IGW) activities is first presented by using a high vertical resolution radiosonde data set at a midlatitude station, Boise, Idaho (43.57°N, 116.22°W), for the period 1998-2008. The tropopause-based vertical coordinate is used for the TIL detection, and for meticulously studying the IGW variation around the TIL, the broad spectral method is used for the IGW extraction. Generally, the TIL at the midlatitude station is stronger and thicker in winter and spring, which is consistent with previous studies. Our study confirmed the intense interaction between the TIL and IGW. It is found that the TIL not only could inhibit the upward propagation of IGWs from below but also imply the possible excitation links between the TIL and IGW. The results also indicate that the enhanced wind shear layer just 1 km above the tropopause may result in instability and finally leads to the IGW breaking and intensive turbulence. Subsequently, the IGW-induced intensive turbulence leads to strong wave energy dissipation and a downward heat flux. This downward heat transportation could significantly cool the tropopause, while it has only negligible thermal effect on the atmosphere above the tropopause. Then, the IGW-induced cooling at the tropopause makes the tropopause colder and sharper and finally forms the TIL. These suggest besides previously proposed mechanisms that IGWs also contribute greatly to the formation of TIL, which is consistent with a recent related simulation study.

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Delayed effect of Arctic stratospheric ozone on tropical rainfall

Xie

Zhang

Sang

et al. 2017

Atmospheric Science Letters

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The tropical precipitation has a wide effect on the tropical economics and social life. Many studies made efforts to improve the tropical precipitation forecast using tropical climate factors. This study, based on observations, found that Arctic stratospheric ozone (ASO) could exert a significant effect on the tropical precipitation, i.e. there is more (less) rainfall over the eastern Pacific and less (more) precipitation over the western Pacific when the ASO anomalies are lower (larger) than normal. It is because a decrease (increase) in ASO could affect El Niño (La Niña) events and lead to a weakened (enhanced) Walker circulation. Time-slice experiments confirmed that the ASO anomalies can force El Niño-Southern Oscillation-like anomalies of tropical sea surface temperature and subsequent tropical precipitation anomalies. In addition, the ASO variations could also change the occurrence probability of extreme precipitation in the tropics. During the anomalously low (high) ASO events, there are more occurrences of heavier precipitation over the eastern Pacific (western Pacific) and of lighter precipitation over the western Pacific (eastern Pacific). Furthermore, the ASO variations lead tropical rainfall by approximately 21 months, suggesting that the ASO can serve as a potentially effective predictor of tropical rainfall.

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Recent variability of the tropical tropopause inversion layer

Cited by 31 publications

References 30 publications

Quantifying contributions to the recent temperature variability in the tropical tropopause layer

Quantifying contributions to the recent temperature variability in the tropical tropopause layer

The interaction between the tropopause inversion layer and the inertial gravity wave activities revealed by radiosonde observations at a midlatitude station

Delayed effect of Arctic stratospheric ozone on tropical rainfall

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