Vertical transport rates in the stratosphere in 1993 from observations of CO{sub 2}, N{sub 2}O and CH{sub 4}

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94GL02079· OSTI ID:57038

Wofsy, S C; Boering, K A; Daube, Jr, B C; McElroy, M B ^[1]; Loewenstein, M; Podolske, J R ^[2]; Elkins, J W; Dutton, G S; Fahey, D W ^[3]

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1. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)
2. NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (United States)
3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (United States)

Measurements of CO{sub 2}, N{sub 2}O and CH{sub 4} are analyzed to define hemispheric average vertical exchange rates in the lower stratosphere from November 1992 to October 1993. Effective vertical diffusion coefficients were small in summer, {le} 1 m{sup 2}s{sup {minus}1} at altitudes below 25 km; values were similar near the tropopause in winter, but increased markedly with altitude. The analysis suggests possibly longer residence times for exhaust from stratospheric aircraft, and more efficient transport from 20 km to the middle stratosphere, than predicted by many current models. Seasonally-resolved measurements of stratospheric CO{sub 2} and N{sub 2}O provide significant new constraints on rates for global-scale vertical transport. 20 refs., 3 figs.

• OSTI ID: 57038
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 21; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALTITUDE
CARBON DIOXIDE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
METHANE
MIXING
NITROUS OXIDE
STRATOSPHERE
VARIATIONS