Nighttime ozone variability in the high latitude winter mesosphere

DOI: 
10.1002/2014JD021987
Publication date: 
16/12/2014
Main author: 
Smith, Anne K.
IAA authors: 
Lopez-Puertas, Manuel; Funke, Bernd; Garcia-Comas, Maya
Authors: 
Smith, Anne K.; Lopez-Puertas, Manuel; Funke, Bernd; Garcia-Comas, Maya; Mlynczak, Martin G.; Holt, Laura A.
Journal: 
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
119
Pages: 
13547-13564
Number: 
Abstract: 
We use satellite observations and a numerical model to investigate polar nighttime ozone at the secondary maximum, around 90-95 km. Observations from the MIPAS and SABER satellite instruments indicate that the highest ozone mixing ratios are seen during the late fall to early winter period in both hemispheres and for all years examined. Simulations using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) find qualitatively the same seasonal evolution. Analysis of WACCM results shows that the high ozone concentration is due in part to the relatively quiet dynamical conditions in early winter. The mean circulation, which brings warmer temperatures and higher concentrations of H, is weaker in early winter than during middle and late winter. H in the late fall to early winter period drops to the lowest levels seen during the year due to lack of a source from photochemistry, weak transport into the region by the mean circulation, and continual loss due to diffusive separation. The low concentration of H leads to higher ozone.
Database: 
WOK
SCOPUS
ADS
URL: 
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/2014JGRD..11913547S/abstract
ADS Bibcode: 
2014JGRD..11913547S
Keywords: