HR: 09:00h
AN: A11D-05 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Anomalously Low Water Vapor, Temperature and Ozone Near the Tropical Tropopause Since 2001
AU: * Randel, W
EM: randel@ucar.edu
AF: NCAR, PO Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AB: Observations of stratospheric water vapor from HALOE (launched in 1991) show anomalously low values (by ~0.5 ppmv) beginning in early 2001, and continuing to present. The anomalously dry air originates near the tropical tropopause, and propagates globally; persistent low values since 2001 are also observed from balloon measurements at Boulder, Colorado (40 N), and in the Arctic stratosphere by the POAM satellite. The anomalous tropical water vapor values are consistent with cold temperature anomalies that have occurred near the tropical tropopause since 2001. Analysis of ozone in the tropical lower stratosphere, from SHADOZ ozonesondes and SAGE II satellite data, also show persistent low values since 2001. Together, these observations suggest a possible intensification of the upward Brewer-Dobson circulation in the tropical lower stratosphere, beginning in 2001.
DE: 3362 Stratosphere/troposphere interactions
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting