Stratospheric dynamical effects of solar ultraviolet variations: Evidence from zonal mean ozone and temperature data

Journal Article · Sat Apr 20 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91JD00228· OSTI ID:5401186

Hood, L L; Jirikowic, J L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson (USA)

Cross-spectral analysis of low-altitude average Nimbus 7 stratospheric and mesospheric sounder (SAMS) temperature deviations versus Nimbus 7 solar backscattered ultraviolet (SBUV) solar 205 nm flux measurements in the 1-3 mbar pressure range yields significant coherence at periods near 27 and 13 days. This supports earlier correlative evidence that the ozone response to solar ultraviolet variations is supplemented by a coupled temperature response in the upper stratosphere. Comparisons of improved one-dimensional radiative photochemical model calculations with ozone and temperature response measurements at low latitudes yields agreement only in the case of ozone at levels below 3 mbar. An additional, presumably dynamical, component of the upper stratospheric response is suggested. Cross-spectral analysis of low-latitude average SAMS temperature deviations versus higher-latitude temperature fluctuations of opposite sign in the winter hemisphere also yields significant coherency at periods near 27 and 13 days. Latitudinal temperature oscillations of this type result from interference between stationary and traveling wave components at stratospheric heights. It is therefore hypothesized that solar ultraviolet variations may force or modulate traveling waves with periods near 27 and 13 days in the upper stratosphere. The existence of such waves with higher amplitude near solar maximum than near solar minimum may help to explain observed solar cycle variations of zonally averaged winds and temperature in the upper stratosphere.

• OSTI ID: 5401186
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 96:D4; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BACKSCATTERING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CORRELATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FUNCTIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MESOSPHERE
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
OZONE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
RADIATIONS
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SATELLITES
SCATTERING
SOLAR ACTIVITY
STANDING WAVES
STRATOSPHERE
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TRAVELLING WAVES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION