Response of middle atmosphere to short-term solar ultraviolet variations: 2. Theory

Journal Article · Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD092iD01p00903· OSTI ID:6695208

Brasseur, G; De Rudder, A; Keating, G M; Pitts, M C

Ozone and temperature responses to solar variability, based on satellite data, have been reported in a companion paper (Keating et. al., this issue). The present is intended to present a theoretical interpretation of this analysis with the purpose of better understanding the chemical behavior of the stratosphere and the coupling between temperature and ozone concentration, when a periodic forcing is applied to the solar ultraviolet (UV) flux. The response of the temperature and of the trace species concentrations, including ozone, to short-term variations in the solar UV irradiance is calculated by a one-dimensional chemical-radiative time-dependent model. The applied solar variability is assumed to be sinusoidal with a period of 27 days (in accordance with the rotation period of the sun) of 13.5 days (when two active regions are on opposite sides of the sun). The amplitude varies with wavelength, which is consistent with observations made by the Nimbus 7 solar backscattered ultraviolet (SBUV) experiment. The maximum ozone sensitivity in the stratosphere appears to be located near 3 mbar. The calculated amplitude and phase of the ozone response are significantly modified when the feedback between ozone and temperature is taken into account. The ozone/temperature coupling tends to modify the ozone phase lag such that, in the upper stratosphere and in the mesosphere, the ozone peak occurs a few days before the UV peak.

• Research Organization: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado
• OSTI ID: 6695208
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 92:D1, Issue D1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
MESOSPHERE
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
OZONE
SOLAR RADIATION
STRATOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VARIATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
STELLAR RADIATION
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena