The interannual variability of polar stratospheric clouds and related parameters in Antarctica during September and October

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i010p01157· OSTI ID:5676489

Poole, L R; McCormick, M P ^[1]; Solomon, S ^[2]; Pitts, M C ^[3]

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1. NASA/Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (USA)
2. NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, CO (USA)
3. ST Systems Corp., Hampton, VA (USA)

Antarctic polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) sightings by the orbiting SAM II sensor during September and October show a pronounced Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) signal, and October sightings have increased markedly over the past 10 years in years of westerly QBO phase. The QBO in PSC frequency is likely to affect the rate of Antarctic heterogeneous chemical processes and, hence, ozone depletion. Studies of the observed long-term temperature trend suggest that the decadal PSC trend probably results from the ozone decline through its effect on stratospheric heating rates. A more detailed analysis of data from 1986 and 1987 shows that there were more PSCs in 1987 and that they persisted much later into the spring season as compared to 1986. Qualitatively similar behavior was found for the OClO column abundances and 18-km ozone depletion observed at McMurdo Station during these 2 years. These observations suggest that both the intensity and duration of heterogeneous chemical processes are likely greater during colder, QBO-westerly phase years.

• OSTI ID: 5676489
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 16:10; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHLORINE OXIDES
CLOUDS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEATING
HOLES
LAYERS
OSCILLATIONS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
OZONE LAYER
POLAR REGIONS
REMOTE SENSING
SATELLITES
STRATOSPHERE
VARIATIONS