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Lindzen, R. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Lindzen, R. S..

41 records · Page 3

The effect of photochemical models on calculated equilibria and cooling rates in the stratosphere

Simplified models were developed for radiative heating and cooling and for ozone photochemistry in the region 22-60 km. The latter permit the inclusion of nitrogen and hydrogen reactions in addition to simple oxygen reactions. The simplicity of the scheme facilitates the use of a wide variety of cooling and reaction rates. It is shown that joint radiative-photochemical equilibrium is appropriate to the mean state of the atmosphere between 35 and 60 km. The relaxation of perturbations from joint radiative-photochemical equilibrium was also investigated. In all cases the coupling between temperature dependent ozone photochemistry and radiation lead to a reduction of the thermal relaxation time from its purely radiative value. The latter, which amounts to about 10 days, is reduced to 2-4 days at heights of 31-35 km. This greatly enhances the dissipation of waves traveling through the stratosphere.

Blake, D.↗

An analytic formula for heating due to ozone absorption

An attempt was made to devise a simple expression or formula to describe radiative heating in the atmosphere by ozone absorption. Such absorption occurs in the Hartley, Huggins, and Chappuis bands and is only slightly temperature and pressure dependent.

Lindzen, R. S.↗

Some aspects of atmosphere waves in realistic atmospheres

Atmospheric tides travelling from the mesosphere into the upper thermosphere are discussed. As a preliminary, an elementary discussion of internal gravity waves is presented. Tides excited by the absorption of extreme ultraviolet radiation within the thermosphere are described also. Theory suggests a much larger semidiurnal oscillation in the thermosphere than is observed.

Lindzen, R. S.↗

Equivalent gravity modes - An interim evaluation

The behavior of the main solar semidiurnal tidal mode in a dissipative atmosphere is studied both in a rotating spherical atmosphere and by means of the equivalent gravity mode approximation. Coefficients are chosen to crudely simulate the effects of molecular viscosity and conductivity. Major findings are: (1) Below 130 km, where friction is unimportant, equivalent gravity mode results are, for all practical purposes, identical to those at the equator obtained from a spherical calculation. (2) Above 130 km amplitudes over the equator obtained from the spherical calculation are about 30 percent smaller than those obtained from the equivalent gravity mode calculations. Also, there is a 15 deg (1/2 hour) difference in phase. (3) The amplitude reduction over the equator, is associated with a broadening of the latitude distribution of amplitude for the oscillatory pressure and temperature fields within the thermosphere. There is also significant variation of phase with latitude within the thermosphere. Associated with the above variations are significant changes in the latitude distribution of horizontal velocity within the thermosphere.

Lindzen, R. S.↗