Isentropic mixing in the Artic stratosphere during the 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 winters

Journal Article · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/95GL00356· OSTI ID:175779

Dahlberg, S P; Bowman, K P ^[1]

---

1. Texas A&M Univ. College Station, TX (United States)

Dynamic isolation of the winter Arctic circumpolar vortex during 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 (the second and third northern hemisphere winters of the UARS mission) is studied using quasi-horizontal isentropic trajectories. Ejection of vortex air and entrainment of mid-latitude air into the vortex are quantified and compared with climatological values obtained from the analysis of 16 Arctic winters. A number of unusual features of both winters are discussed. The most notable features are the anomalous isolation experienced by the vortex during December 1992 and the unusual degree of isolation and persistence of the vortex during February and March of both years. The 1992-1993 winter season is the most consistently isolated vortex on record. Only during January 1993, when entrainment is large, is this pattern of extreme isolation broken. 14 refs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 175779
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 22; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARCTIC REGIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
ISENTROPIC PROCESSES
MIXING
STRATOSPHERE