Mean radiative energy balance and vertical mass fluxes in the equatorial upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

37

Atmospheric Processes: Stratosphere/Troposphere Interactions, Atmospheric Processes: Radiative Processes, Atmospheric Processes: Tropical Meteorology

Scientific paper

We use radiative transfer calculations to quantify vertical mass transport in the equatorial upper troposphere (UT) and lower stratosphere (LS), employing high resolution sonde measurements of temperature, ozone and water vapor at seven equatorial locations (10°S-10°N). The influence of clouds is examined using data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) and the Lidar-In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE). The resulting mean heating rate profiles show that the transition from radiative cooling to heating occurs significantly lower in the full sky case than in the clear sky case, demonstrating the importance of clouds for processes in the UT, such as troposphere-to-stratosphere transport (TST). The heating rate profiles are used to calculate mean vertical mass fluxes, which show a divergent mass flux from 15-19 km. This suggests that only a small part of the air ascending through the cold point tropopause can reach the middle stratosphere. Above 19 km the vertical motion is a non-divergent upwelling mass flux consistent with the idea of a Brewer-Dobson circulation driven by waves dissipating in the extratropical stratosphere. Lower down, other processes are also responsible for the upwelling.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Mean radiative energy balance and vertical mass fluxes in the equatorial upper troposphere and lower stratosphere does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Mean radiative energy balance and vertical mass fluxes in the equatorial upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mean radiative energy balance and vertical mass fluxes in the equatorial upper troposphere and lower stratosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1217896

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.