Engineering topics

Plumb, R. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Plumb, R. A..

12 records

NASA NTRS1994

Fine-scale, poleward transport of tropical air during AASE 2

The poleward transport of tropical air in the lower stratosphere during the winter period of the second Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (AASE 2) (December 1991-March 1992) is examined using contour advection calcutions. These calculations show that filaments of tropical air extend into mid-latitudes, and are wrapped around the equatorward edge of the polar jet. Simultaneously filaments are drawn from the polar vortex and are intermingled with the filaments of tropical air. The tropical filaments are consistent with measurements of chemical tracers taken aboard the ER-2 and DC-8 aircraft which show localized regions, in mid-latitudes, of air with the characteristics of tropical air.

Waugh, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Transport out of the lower stratospheric Arctic vortex by Rossby wave breaking

The fine-scale structure in lower stratospheric tracer transport during the period of the two Arctic Airborne Stratospheric Expeditions (January and February 1989; December 1991 to March 1992) is investigated using contour advection with surgery calculations. These calculations show that Rossby wave breaking is an ongoing occurrence during these periods and that air is ejected from the polar vortex in the form of long filamentary structures. There is good qualitative agreement between these filaments and measurements of chemical tracers taken aboard the NASA ER-2 aircraft. The ejected air generally remains filamentary and is stretched and mixed with midlatitude air as it is wrapped around the vortex. This process transfers vortex air into midlatitudes and also produces a narrow region of fine-scale filaments surrounding the polar vortex. Among other things, this makes it difficult to define a vortex edge. The calculations also show that strong stirring can occur inside as well as outside the vortex.

Waugh, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Intrusions into the lower stratospheric Arctic vortex during the winter of 1991-1992

Investigations of the kinematics of the lower stratospheric Arctic vortex during the winter of 1991-1992 using the contour advection with surgery technique reveal three distinct events in which there was substantial intrusion of midlatitude air into the vortex, in apparent contradiction of the view that the polar vortex constitutes an isolated air mass. Two of these events, in late January and mid-February, were well documented. They were predicted in high-resolution forecasts by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, most clearly in experimental forecasts with reduced diffusion. Direct confirmation of the presence of the intrusions and of their calculated locations was provided by aerosol observations from the airborne differential absorption laser lidar aboard the NASA DC-8, taken as part of the second Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition campaign; aerosol-rich air of midlatitude origin was seen in the expected position of the intrusions. The reality of the February event was also confirmed by in situ measurements from the NASA ER-2. Such events may be significant for the chemical processes taking place within the winter vortex. The intrusions were evidently related to the meteorology of the northern stratosphere during this winter and in particular to persistent tropospheric blocking over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and western Europe and concomitant ridging into the lower stratospheric vortex in this region. Nevertheless, preliminary investigations have indicated that such events are not uncommon in other northern hemisphere winters, although no such events were found in the southern hemisphere during the Antarctic winter of 1987.

Plumb, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The response of a zonally symmetric atmosphere to subtropical thermal forcing - Threshold behavior

We consider the response of a zonally symmetric atmosphere to a thermal forcing that is localized in the subtropics. Specifically, the equilibrium temperature distribution has a local subtropical peak and is flat elsewhere, including at the equator. On the basis of inviscid steady-state theory, it is argued that the response to such forcing is one of two distinct types. Below a threshold forcing, the atmosphere adopts a steady state of thermal equilibrium with no meridional flow. With supercritical forcing, this state breaks down and a strong meridional circulation is predicted. The threshold forcing value is that at which the absolute vorticity of the zonal flow (in gradient balance with the equilibrium temperatures) vanishes at the upper boundary. These inviscid predictions are tested in a zonally symmetric numerical model; while the model viscosity shifts the threshold and otherwise modifies the response, the threshold is clearly evident in the model behavior.

Plumb, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Interrelationships between mixing ratios of long-lived stratospheric constituents

Relationships between the simultaneously measured mixing ratios of certain stratospheric constituents that are sometimes linear are argued to be expected for species of sufficiently long lifetime. Species whose local lifetimes are longer than quasi-horizontal-transport time scales are in climatological slope equilibrium, i.e., they share surfaces of constant mixing ratio, and a scatter plot of the mixing ratio of one versus that of the other collapses to a compact curve whose slope at any point is the ratio of the net global fluxes of the two species through the corresponding surface of constant mixing ratio. Species whose local lifetimes are greater than vertical transport time scales are in gradient equilibrium and their mixing ratios display a linear relationship. These statements are illustrated using results from a 2D chemistry-transport model.

Plumb, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Large-scale dynamics and transport in the stratosphere

Stationary planetary waves in the southern stratosphere display a characteristic seasonal cycle. Previous research based on a one-dimensional model suggests that this behavior is mainly determined by seasonally varying transmission properties of the atmosphere with respect to wave propagation. The issue is investigated with the help of a hemispheric, linear, quasigeostrophic model. It reproduces well some of the observed qualitative features and is internally consistent in the sense that its seasonal wave cycle can be explained in terms of varying wave transmission properties of the mean circulation. On the other hand, the model does not yield the observed seasonal cycle. Despite considerable sensitivity to modifications in the basic state wind and dissipation parametrization, the model could not be reasonably fit to reproduce the observed seasonal cycle.

Plumb, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Polar ozone

The observation and interpretation of a large, unexpected ozone depletion over Antarctica has changed the international scientific view of stratospheric chemistry. The observations which show the veracity, seasonal nature, and vertical structure of the Antarctic ozone hole are presented. Evidence for Arctic and midlatitude ozone loss is also discussed. The chemical theory for Antarctic ozone depletion centers around the occurrence of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) in Antarctic winter and spring; the climatology and radiative properties of these clouds are presented. Lab studies of the physical properties of PSCs and the chemical processes that subsequently influence ozone depletion are discussed. Observations and interpretation of the chemical composition of the Antarctic stratosphere are described. It is shown that the observed, greatly enhanced abundances of chlorine monoxide in the lower stratosphere are sufficient to explain much if not all of the ozone decrease. The dynamic meteorology of both polar regions is given, interannual and interhemispheric variations in dynamical processes are outlined, and their likely roles in ozone loss are discussed.

Solomon, S.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Horizontal mixing coefficients for two-dimensional chemical models calculated from National Meteorological Center Data

Calculations of the two-dimensional, species-independent mixing coefficients for two-dimensional chemical models for the troposphere and stratosphere are performed using quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity fluxes and gradients from 4 years of National Meteorological Center data for the four seasons in both hemispheres. Results show that the horizontal mixing coefficient values for the winter lower stratosphere are broadly consistent with those currently employed in two-dimensional models, but the horizontal mixing coefficient values in the northern winter upper stratosphere are much larger than those usually used.

Newman, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

On the interaction between the quasi-2-day wave and the mean flow

Studies of the quasi-2-day wave show that it is a summertime phenomenon. Long-term measurement of the winds in the 60 to 100 km height range at Adelaide show that the wave appears in the late December but that the peak amplitudes are not reached until mid-January. In the summer of 1983 to 1984 the main phase of the wave appeared as a pulse in mid-January which lasted about 7 cycles (14 days). Little or no amplification with height was observed; peak amplitudes were about 60 m/s for the meridional and 20 m/s for the zonal component. Coincident with the onset of the pulse, a temporary but substantial change occurred throughout a deep layer of the upper mesosphere over a period of about 3 days. A change of more than 10 m/s occurred in the northward flow while the change in the zonal flow (about 30 m/s westward) actually caused a reversal of the prevailing zonal circulation.

Craig, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The zonally averaged transport characteristics of the atmosphere as determined by a general circulation model

Two dimensional modeling has become an established technique for the simulation of the global structure of trace constituents. Such models are simpler to formulate and cheaper to operate than three dimensional general circulation models, while avoiding some of the gross simplifications of one dimensional models. Nevertheless, the parameterization of eddy fluxes required in a 2-D model is not a trivial problem. This fact has apparently led some to interpret the shortcomings of existing 2-D models as indicating that the parameterization procedure is wrong in principle. There are grounds to believe that these shortcomings result primarily from incorrect implementations of the predictions of eddy transport theory and that a properly based parameterization may provide a good basis for atmospheric modeling. The existence of these GCM-derived coefficients affords an unprecedented opportunity to test the validity of the flux-gradient parameterization. To this end, a zonally averaged (2-D) model was developed, using these coefficients in the transport parameterization. Results from this model for a number of contrived tracer experiments were compared with the parent GCM. The generally good agreement substantially validates the flus-gradient parameterization, and thus the basic principle of 2-D modeling.

Plumb, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Assessment models

The types of models used in assessment of possible chemical perturbations to the stratosphere are reviewed. The statue of one and two dimensional models are discussed. The problem of model validation is covered before the status of photochemical modeling efforts is discussed. A hierarchy of tests for photochemical models is presented.

Pyle, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Dynamical processes

The techniques used to observe the middle atmosphere; the zonally-averaged and eddy structure of the middle atmosphere; seasonal variations and interannual variability; theoretical understanding of the middle atmospheric circulation are discussed. Recent satellite-based observational studies of stratospheric transport process, as revealed by the behavior of constituents and of potential vorticity (a dynamical tracer) are reviewed. The theory of global transport and its representation in transport models is discussed.

Plumb, R. A.↗