HR: 1340h
AN: A43A-0865 [Abstracts]
TI: The Day-to-day Variability of Mesospheric Water Vapor at High Latitude - a Comparison Between Microwave Observations and Calculations by Means of the GCM LIMA
AU: * Sonnemann, G R
EM: sonnemann@iap-kborn.de
AF: Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University Rostock, Schloss-Str. 6,
Kuehlungsborn, D-18225, Germany
AU: Hartogh, P
EM: hartogh@mps.mpg.de
AF: Max-Planck-Institute for Solar System Research, Max-Planck-Str. 2, Katlenburg-Lindau, D-
37191, Germany
AU: Grygalashvyly, M
EM: gryga@iap-kborn.de
AF: Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University Rostock, Schloss-Str. 6,
Kuehlungsborn, D-18225, Germany
AU: Song, L
EM: song@mps.mpg.de
AF: Max-Planck-Institute for Solar System Research, Max-Planck-Str. 2, Katlenburg-Lindau, D-
37191, Germany
AU: Berger, U
EM: berger@iap-kborn.de
AF: Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University Rostock, Schloss-Str. 6,
Kuehlungsborn, D-18225, Germany
AB:
Water vapor measurements in the mesosphere employing the microwave technique were carried out in high
latitudes at ALOMAR (69.29 N, 16.03 E), Norway. The observed water vapor mixing ratios are marked by
pronounced variations with planetary time scale. As the chemical lifetime of water vapor is very large in the
mesosphere the variations reflect transport processes triggered by the planetary wave activity. A prominent
signature is the quasi 5-day wave, actually having a period varying around this value. Using our real-date GCM
LIMA (Leibniz-Institute Middle Atmosphere model) of the Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics in
Kühlungsborn, Germany, the model output satisfactory reproduces the measured variations although in detail
various differences occur between observations and calculations. In particular, the annual variation including
intra-annual variations as caused by sudden stratospheric warmings is mirrored by the model. We discuss the
results for different years in terms of dynamics and chemistry.
DE: 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
DE: 0317 Chemical kinetic and photochemical properties
DE: 0322 Constituent sources and sinks
DE: 0340 Middle atmosphere: composition and chemistry
DE: 0341 Middle atmosphere: constituent transport and chemistry (3334)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting