First Detection of a Brief Mesoscale Elevated Stratopause in Very Early Winter

DOI: 
10.1029/2019GL086751
Publication date: 
01/02/2020
Main author: 
García-Comas, Maya
IAA authors: 
García-Comas, Maya;Funke, Bernd;López-Puertas, Manuel;González-Galindo, Francisco
Authors: 
García-Comas, Maya;Funke, Bernd;López-Puertas, Manuel;González-Galindo, Francisco;Kiefer, Michael;Höpfner, Michael
Journal: 
Geophysical Research Letters
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
47
Pages: 
e86751
Abstract: 
Elevated stratopauses are typically associated with prolonged disturbed conditions in the Northern Hemisphere polar winter. The Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) and the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) observed a short-lived and highly zonally asymmetric stratopause at mesospheric altitudes in November 2009, the earliest in the season reported so far. The Arctic climatological winter stratopause vanished, and MIPAS and MLS measured temperatures of 260 K at 82 km and 250 K at 75 km, respectively, in a region smaller than in typical midwinter elevated stratopause events. Planetary wave activity was initially high. Zonal mean zonal winds and the poleward temperature gradient northward of 70°N stayed reversed during 7 days, but the mesosphere did not cool. Wave activity dropped until the eastward stratospheric winds resumed and a strong vortex restored in the mesosphere. The stratopause emerged at high altitudes, staying there for 2-5 days. It was accompanied by enhanced downward transport. It took the stratopause 9 days to move down to its typical winter altitudes.
Database: 
ADS
SCOPUS
URL: 
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/2020GeoRL..4786751G/abstract
ADS Bibcode: 
2020GeoRL..4786751G
Keywords: 
elevated stratopause;mesospheric dynamics;remote sensing