HR: 0800h
AN: A21E-0794    [Abstracts]
TI: Correlating Polar Stratospheric Cloud Occurrence at the South Pole with Transport and Polar Geopotential Height Anomalies
AU: * Campbell, J R
EM: campbell@gi.alaska.edu
AF: Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320, United States
AU: Sassen, K
EM: ksassen@gi.alaska.edu
AF: Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320, United States
AB: In a recent paper, we describe the macrophysical and thermodynamic properties of polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) at the South Pole based on continuous eye-safe lidar measurements made over five seasons (2000, 2003-2006). In this paper, we describe the relationship between PSC occurrence and the propensity for transport within the austral polar vortex. The southern lower-stratospheric polar airmass may be approximated as a closed system from May to September. Saturation vapor pressures for background concentrations of sulfuric and nitric acid and water vapor are reached either through radiational cooling or isentropic lift. Once nucleated, PSC acquire fall-velocities that remove these compounds from these heights. Satellite measurements (e.g., MLS) depict the widening proximity of the depleted airmass through the polar night. Yet, our measurements show that PSC occurrence can occur up to 20 km late in the season, which suggests replenishment of these species in air originating near the edges of the vortex. We examine 120-h back-trajectories during July and August and temperature histories to identify conditions and circumstances favorable to this occurring. Furthermore, we describe geopotential height anomalies averaged along 60° - 90° S, and compared to a twenty-year mean, as a proxy for the dynamic character of the polar vortex. Negative/positive anomalies indicate a strong/weak and deep/shallow vortex where its circulation inhibits/promotes meridional transport, replenishment and the likelihood of PSC at South Pole. We test this hypothesis using our dataset and reach conclusions on the influence of the polar vortex on total PSC observed each season, which, in turn, may influence the severity of annual ozone losses.
DE: 3334 Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342)
DE: 3362 Stratosphere/troposphere interactions
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting