Seasonal cycle of the residual mean meridional circulation in the stratosphere

Journal Article · Mon Mar 20 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94JD03122· OSTI ID:146818

Rosenlof, K H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

The transformed Eulerian-mean (TEM) residual circulation is used to study the zonally averaged transport of mass in the stratosphere. The residual circulation is estimated from heating rates computed with a radiative transfer model using data from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) as inputs. An annual cycle exists in the resulting circulation in the lower stratosphere, with a larger net upward mass flux across a pressure surface in the tropics during northern hemisphere winter than during northern hemisphere summer. The annual cycle in upward tropical mass flux follows the annual cycle in downward mass flux across a pressure surface in the northern hemisphere extratropics. It is argued that the annual cycle in zonal momentum forcing in the northern hemisphere stratosphere is controlling mass flux across a pressure surface in the lower stratosphere both in the tropics and in the northern hemisphere extratropics. 40 refs., 17 figs., 5 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 146818
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: D3 Vol. 100; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALTITUDE
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
MIXING
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
STRATOSPHERE