Evidence for diabatic cooling and poleward transport within and around the 1987 Antarctic ozone hole

Journal Article · Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD094iD14p16797· OSTI ID:7251703

Proffitt, M H; Powell, J A ^[1]; Kelly, K K ^[2]; Gray, B L ^[3]; Loewenstein, M; Podolske, J R; Strahan, S E; Chan, K R ^[4]

---

1. NOAA, Boulder, CO (United States) Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (United States)
2. NOAA, Boulder, CO (United States)
3. Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (United States)
4. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (United States)

Combining in situ measurements of nitrous oxide, total water, and NO{sub y} with meteorological data, including potential vorticity, taken during the 1987 Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment, a consistent picture emerges of a gradual poleward movement of air extending from about 10{degree} in latitude outside the boundary of the ozone hole to about 5{degree} inside. The data analysis is concentrated in the potential temperature range of 425-450 K, corresponding to geometric altitudes of 17.5-19 km. Evidence of ongoing diabatic cooling throughout this region is presented, and cooling rates of about 1.75 K in potential temperature per day (approximately 0.8 K per day in temperature at constant pressure) are calculated from the data outside the boundary of the ozone hole. An interpretation of the data is presented that describes the movement of air that has come from lower latitudes into the ozone hole, as diabatically descending and spiraling poleward. The result of this spiraling motion is a dominantly advective flow of ozone rich air across the boundary and into the ozone hole. This simple picture precludes requiring extensive isentropic mixing with accompanying vertical descent to maintain the steep poleward isentropic gradients found in nitrous oxide. Data are presented to show that the necessary accompanying outflow of stratospheric air from within the ozone hole occurs at potential temperatures less than 425 K and that, during the mission, there was no significant transport of processed air across the boundary and out of the ozone hole from 425 to 450 K. Arguments involving conservation of angular momentum are also used to support this model.

• OSTI ID: 7251703
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 94:D14; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
OZONE LAYER
NITROGEN OXIDES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
NITROUS OXIDE
MASS TRANSFER
WATER VAPOR
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
COOLING
DATA ANALYSIS
GAS FLOW
HOLES
LEVELS
LOSSES
MIXING
MOMENTUM TRANSFER
OZONE
STRATOSPHERE
VORTICES
CHALCOGENIDES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GASES
LAYERS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLAR REGIONS
VAPORS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
290301 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)
010900 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects