N sub 2 O as a dynamical tracer in the Arctic vortex

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i004p00477· OSTI ID:5397268

Loewenstein, M; Podolske, J R; Chan, K R ^[1]; Strahan, S E ^[2]

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1. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (USA)
2. San Jose State Univ., CA (USA)

The authors report N{sub 2}O measurements obtained by the Airborne Tunable Laser Absorption Spectrometer (ATLAS) instrument from 14 flights of the NASA ER-2 aircraft during the 1989 Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (AASE) field campaign. In the altitude range expected for ozone loss N{sub 2}O has a long photochemical lifetime, making it an excellent tracer of lower stratospheric air motions. As in the southern hemisphere, the zonal wind speed maximum and large gradients of potential vorticity and N{sub 2}O identify the vortex edge. N{sub 2}O profiles inside the vortex indicate net descent relative to outside the vortex and to the summer polar lower stratosphere. Descent of the N{sub 2}O profile during the Arctic night relative to the summer profile is comparable to the downward shift in the vertical profile observed in the 1987 Antarctic winter vortex. Winter profiles at the poles are very similar above the 435 K potential temperature surface, but divergent below.

• OSTI ID: 5397268
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 17:4; ISSN GPRLA; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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