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At least 811 records · Page 45

Studies of stratospheric particulates

A sophisticated computer model of polar stratospheric clouds was developed and used to study the properties of ice clouds. The model has recently been extended to investigate nitric acid clouds and ice clouds as well as their interactions with stratospheric gases. The model is now being applied to interpret data collected during recent expeditions to the Antarctic and the Arctic. Some work has also been done to understand the properties of noctilucent clouds and their implications for the chemistry and dynamics of the upper stratosphere.

Toon, Owen B.↗

Analysis of stratospheric ozone, temperature, and minor constituent data

The objective of this research is to use available satellite measurements of temperature and constituent concentrations to test the conceptual picture of stratospheric chemistry and transport. This was originally broken down into two sub-goals: first, to use the constituent data to search for critical tests of our understanding of stratospheric chemistry and second, to examine constituent transport processes emphasizing interactions with chemistry on various time scales. A third important goal which has evolved is to use the available solar backscattered ultraviolet (SBUV) and Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data from Nimbus 7 to describe the morphology of recent changes in Antarctic and global ozone with emphasis on searching for constraints to theories. The major effort now being pursued relative to the two original goals is our effort as a theoretical team for the Arctic Airborne Stratospheric Expedition (AASE). Our effort for the AASE is based on the 3D transport and chemistry model at Goddard. Our goal is to use this model to place the results from the mission data in a regional and global context. Specifically, we set out to make model runs starting in late December and running through March of 1989, both with and without heterogeneous chemistry. The transport is to be carried out using dynamical fields from a 4D data assimilation model being developed under separate funding from this task. We have successfully carried out a series of single constituent transport experiments. One of the things demonstrated by these runs was the difficulty in obtaining observed low N2O abundances in the vortex without simultaneously obtaining very high ozone values. Because the runs start in late December, this difficulty arises in the attempt to define consistent initial conditions for the 3D model. To accomplish a consistent set of initial conditions, we are using the 2D photochemistry-transport model of Jackman and Douglass and mapping in potential temperature, potential vorticity space as developed by Schoeberl and coworkers.

Stolarski, Richard S.↗

Scientific assessment of stratospheric ozone: 1989, volume 1

A scientific review is presented of the current understanding of stratospheric ozone. There have been highly significant advances in the understanding of the impact of human activities on the Earth's protective ozone layer. There are four major findings that each heighten the concern that chlorine and bromine containing chemicals can lead to a significant depletion of stratospheric ozone: (1) Antarctic ozone hole (the weight of evidence indicates that chlorinated and brominated chemicals are responsible for the ozone hole; (2) Perturbed arctic chemistry (the same potentially ozone destroying processes were identified in the Arctic stratosphere); (3) Long term ozone decreases; and (4) Model limitations (gaps in theoretical models used for assessment studies).

Source record↗

Relative effects on stratospheric ozone of halogenated methanes and ethanes of social and industrial interest

Four atmospheric modeling groups have calculated relative effects of several halocarbons (chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's)-11, 12, 113, 114, and 115; hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's) 22, 123, 124, 141b, and 142b; hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's) 125, 134a, 143a, and 152a, carbon tetrachloride; and methyl chloroform) on stratospheric ozone. Effects on stratospheric ozone were calculated for each compound and normalized relative to the effect of CFC-11. These models include the representations for homogeneous physical and chemical processes in the middle atmosphere but do no account for either heterogeneous chemistry or polar dynamics which are important in the spring time loss of ozone over Antarctica. Relative calculated effects using a range of models compare reasonably well. Within the limits of the uncertainties of these model results, compounds now under consideration as functional replacements for fully halogenated compounds have modeled stratospheric ozone reductions of 10 percent or less of that of CFC-11. Sensitivity analyses examined the sensitivity of relative calculated effects to levels of other trace gases, assumed transport in the models, and latitudinal and seasonal local dependencies. Relative effects on polar ozone are discussed in the context of evolving information on the special processes affecting ozone, especially during polar winter-springtime. Lastly, the time dependency of relative effects were calculated.

Fisher, Donald A.↗

Lower Stratospheric Measurement Issues Workshop Report

The Lower Stratospheric Measurement Issues workshop was held on 17-19 Oct. 1990. The 3-day workshop was sponsored by the Atmospheric Effects of Stratospheric Aircraft (AESA) component of the High Speed Research Program (HSRP). Its purpose was to provide a scientific forum for addressing specific issues regarding chemistry and transport in the lower stratosphere, for which measurements are essential to an assessment of the environmental impact of a projected fleet of high speed civil transports (HSCTs). The objective of the workshop was to obtain vigorous and critical review of the following topics: (1) atmospheric measurements needed for the assessment; (2) present capability for making those measurements; and (3) areas in instrumentation or platform development essential to making the measurements.

Schmeltekopf, Arthur L.↗

Measurements of Stratospheric Pinatubo Aerosol Extinction Profiles by a Raman Lidar

The Raman lidar has been used for remote measurements of water vapor, ozone and atmospheric temperature in the lower troposphere because the Raman cross section is three orders smaller than the Rayleigh cross section. We estimated the extinction coefficients of the Pinatubo volcanic aerosol in the stratosphere using a Raman lidar. If the precise aerosol extinction coefficients are derived, the backscatter coefficient of a Mie scattering lidar will be more accurately estimated. The Raman lidar has performed to measure density profiles of some species using Raman scattering. Here we used a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser for transmitter and received nitrogen vibrational Q-branch Raman scattering signal. Ansmann et al. (1990) derived tropospherical aerosol extinction profiles with a Raman lidar. We think that this method can apply to dense stratospheric aerosols such as Pinatubo volcanic aerosols. As dense aerosols are now accumulated in the stratosphere by Pinatubo volcanic eruption, the error of Ramen lidar signal regarding the fluctuation of air density can be ignored.

Abo, Makoto↗

Interpretation of DIAL Measurements of Lower Stratospheric Ozone in Regions with Pinatubo Aerosols

The influence of volcanic aerosols on stratospheric ozone is a topic of current interest, especially with the June 15, 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines. Lidar has been used in the past to provide aerosol profiles which could be compared with ozone profiles measured using ozonesondes to look for coincidences between volcanic aerosols and ozone decreases. The differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique has the advantages of being able to measure ozone and aerosol profiles simultaneously as well as being able to cover large geographical regions rapidly. While there are problems associated with correcting the ozone profiles for the presence of aerosols, the corrections can be made reliably when the wavelengths are closely spaced and the Bernoulli method is applied. The DIAL measurements considered in this paper are those obtained in the tropical stratosphere in January 1992 during the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (AASE-II). The determination of ozone profiles in the presence of Pinatubo aerosols is discussed in a companion paper.

Grant, William B.↗

A New Raman DIAL Technique for Measuring Stratospheric Ozone in the Presence of Volcanic Aerosols

This paper describes a new lidar scheme to measure stratospheric ozone in the presence of heavy volcanic aerosol loading. The eruptions of the Philippine volcano Pinatubo during June 1991 ejected large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to altitudes of at least 30 km. The resulting aerosols have severely affected the measurements of stratospheric ozone when using traditional Rayleigh differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique, in which the scattering mechanism is almost entirely Rayleigh and which assumes a small amount or no aerosols. In order to extract an ozone profile in the regions below about 30 km where the Rayleigh lidar returns are contaminated by aerosol scattering from Mt. Pinatubo cloud, we have used a Raman lidar technique, where the scattering mechanism depends solely on molecular nitrogen. In this scheme there is no aerosol scattering component to the backscattered lidar return. Using this technique in conjunction with the Rayleigh DIAL measurement, the GSFC stratospheric ozone lidar has measured ozone profiles between 15 and 50 km during the recently held UARS correlative measurement campaign (February-March 1992) at JPL's Table Mountain Facility in California.

Upendra N. Singh↗

The JPL Table Mountain and Mauna Loa Stratospheric Ozone Lidars

The development of a differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system for long-term measurements of stratospheric ozone and for potential inclusion in the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC) began at JPL in 1986, concurrent with the first workshop that considered the priorities and appropriate measurement techniques for such a network. The DIAL system at the JPL Table Mountain Facility (TMF) was developed specifically to have characteristics suitable for longterm measurements as proposed for NDSC. Regular measurements of stratospheric ozone concentration profiles commenced in February 1988 and this system has been fully described elsewhere.

Mcdermid, I. Stuart↗

Observation of Stratospheric Ozone with NIES Lidar System in Tsukuba, Japan

Lidars are expected to play important roles in an international monitoring network of the stratosphere such as the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC). The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) in Tsukuba constructed an ozone lidar system in March 1988 and started observation in August 1988. The lidar system has a 2-m telescope and injection locked XeCl and XeF excimer lasers which can measure ozone profiles (15-45 km) and temperature profiles (30-80 km). From December 1991, lidar observations have been carried out in which the second Stokes line of the stimulated Raman scattering of a KrF laser has been used. Ozone profiles obtained with the NIES lidar system are compared with the data provided by the SAGE II satellite sensor. Results showed good agreement for the individual and the zonal mean profiles. Variations of ozone with various time scales at each altitude can be studied using the data obtained with the NIES ozone lidar system. Seasonal variations are easily found at 20 km, 30 km, and 35 km, which are qualitatively understood as a result of dynamical and photochemical effects. Systematic errors of ozone profiles due to the Pinatubo stratospheric aerosols have been detected using multi-wavelength observation.

Nakane, H.↗

Airborne Lidar Observations of the Stratosphere After the Pinatubo Eruption

The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in June 1991 injected the largest mass of gases and ash into the stratosphere observed since lidar and satellite monitoring of the stratosphere became possible in the middle 1960's. Because of early indications of the significance of the eruption, NASA mounted an airborne mission to survey the stratospheric plume soon after the eruption. The NASA Wallops Electra aircraft was outfitted with a depolarization lidar, a correlation spectrometer (for SO2 measurements), a total-direct-diffuse spectral radiometer, and a Fourier transform spectrometer. Six flights were made during the period July 7-14.

Winker, David M.↗

Correction of DIAL Stratospheric Ozone Measurements in the Presence of Pinatubo Aerosols

NASA Langley's airborne lidar system measured aerosol and ozone distributions in the stratosphere from Jan. - Mar. 1992 as part of the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric expedition (AASE-2). The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in Jun. 1991 has increased the aerosol burden of the stratosphere and thereby increased the importance of applying an aerosol correction to the ozone measurements. The correction relies on a Bernoulli solution to derive a backscatter correction to the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) returns at two wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectral region (lambda(sub on) = 301.5 nm, lambda(sub off) = 310.87 nm) as described in earlier works. This paper discusses how the parameters for the correction were optimized for application to the AASE-2 data set.

Fenn, Marta A.↗

A considerable effect of stratospheric aerosol on lidar-detected ozone profile and a three-wavelength inversion technique for both ozone and aerosol

As far as the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique is concerned, it is important that the off-line wavelength is close to the on-line wavelength in order to avoid a messy computation of the atmospheric aerosol scattering. However, the two wavelengths of ozone-DIAL are usually considerably different. Usually, an excimer laser of 308nm (on-line) and Raman shifting of 353nm or the third harmonic of a Nd-YAG laser with 355nm (off-line) are selected for measurements of the stratospheric ozone, and there is a difference of 45nm or 47nm between them. Because of the difference there is a difference in the atmospheric scatterings of the two wavelengths. This can cause some error in the retrieved ozone profile if the aerosol scattering is neglected. This paper is devoted to a study of the effect of the stratospheric aerosol on the ozone solution, and a three-wavelength detection technique is proposed for obtaining the more exact ozone profile and the aerosol profile in the stratosphere.

Qiu, Jinhuan↗

Radiatively driven stratosphere-troposphere interactions near the tops of tropical cloud clusters

Results are presented of two numerical simulations of the mechanism involved in the dehydration of air, using the model of Churchill (1988) and Churchill and Houze (1990) which combines the water and ice physics parameterizations and IR and solar-radiation parameterization with a convective adjustment scheme in a kinematic nondynamic framework. One simulation, a cirrus cloud simulation, was to test the Danielsen (1982) hypothesis of a dehydration mechanism for the stratosphere; the other was to simulate the mesoscale updraft in order to test an alternative mechanism for 'freeze-drying' the air. The results show that the physical processes simulated in the mesoscale updraft differ from those in the thin-cirrus simulation. While in the thin-cirrus case, eddy fluxes occur in response to IR radiative destabilization, and, hence, no net transfer occurs between troposphere and stratosphere, the mesosphere updraft case has net upward mass transport into the lower stratosphere.

Churchill, Dean D.↗

The influence of dynamics on two-dimensional model results - Simulations of C-14 and stratospheric aircraft NO(x) injections

The influence of dynamics on model results is investigated via a 2D photochemical model. Three representations of atmospheric transport are tested in order to simulate total ozone and C-14 amounts after nuclear tests in the early 1960s. Three scenarios of NO(x) injections from a proposed fleet of stratospheric aircraft and their effects on ozone are simulated. The three dynamical formulations used are Dynamics A, a base dynamics used in previous work with this model; Dynamics B, a strong circulation dynamics discussed by Jackman et al. (1989); and Dynamics C, the dynamics used by Shia et al. (1989). The advective component of the stratosphere to the troposphere mass exchange rate is largest for Dynamics B (5.8 x 10 exp 17 kg/yr) and smallest for Dynamics C (1.4 x 10 exp 17 kg/yr), with the advective strat/trop exchange rate for Dynamics A (2.4 x 10 exp 17 kg/yr) being these two extremes. Ozone depletion from NO(x) injections of stratospheric aircraft showed a strong sensitivity to dynamics.

Jackman, Charles H.↗

More rapid polar ozone depletion through the reaction of HOCl with HCl on polar stratospheric clouds

The direct reaction of HOCl with HCl is shown here to play a critical part in polar ozone loss. Observations of high levels of OClO and ClO in the springtime Antarctic stratosphere confirm that most of the available chlorine is in the form of ClO(x). But current photochemical models have difficulty converting HCl to ClO(x) rapidly enough in early spring to account fully for the observations. Here, a chemical model is used to show that the direct reaction of HOCl with HCl provides the missing mechanism. As alternative sources of nitrogen-containing oxidants have been converted in the late autumn to inactive HNO3 by known reactions on the sulfate layer aerosols, the reaction of HOCl with HCl on polar stratospheric clouds becomes the most important pathway for releasing that stratospheric chlorine which goes into polar night as HCl.

Prather, Michael J.↗

The changing stratosphere

The current status of stratospheric research on stratospheric ozone is reviewed. Special attention is given to ozone chemistries in the upper and the lower stratosphere at the Antarctic, Arctic, and tropical latitudes, as well as at midlatitudes. The consequences these changes have on global climate are discussed in the framework of a one-dimensional radiative-convective model.

Mcelroy, Michael B.↗

A detailed petrological analysis of hydrated, low-nickel, nonchondritic stratospheric dust particles

A detailed petrological analysis of three low-Ni, K-bearing, nonchondritic stratospheric dust particles is performed, and these particles are compared to products of high-energy, explosive (Plinian-type) volcanic events. The analytical electron microscope (AEM) analyses show pervasive layer silicates, carbonate and goethite, and chemical fractionation in the matrix of these particles similar to hydrothermal alteration in volcanic ejecta. Along with low Ni content and the presence of potassium, the texture and mineralogy of particles L2001-18, L2001-20, and L2002 C2 are similar to at least two nonchondritic stratospheric dust particles of the igneous subgroup for which an extraterrestrial origin has been suggested based on their minor- and trace-element abundances. The petrological characteristics of some low-Ni, K-bearing nonchondritic stratospheric dust particles supports a probable terrestrial volcanic origin, but the AEM data alone cannot exclude an extraterrestrial origin for these particles.

Rietmeijer, Frans J. M.↗