Role of temperature history in polar stratospheric cloud sightings

Steele, Helen; Lumpe, J. D.; Bevilacqua, R. M.; Hoppel, K. W.; Turco, R. P.

doi:10.1029/2001jd001261

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…In summary, although there are uncertainties of the UKMO temperature data, cold temperature histories are associated with the PSCs that we report in Figure 6. This is consistent with the suggestion of Steele et al [2002] based on their statistical analyses.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…To investigate this possibility, air mass trajectories on isentropic surfaces are calculated to investigate whether air masses experienced unusual temperature histories. Steele et al [2002] suggested from analyses of POAM aerosol data that factors other than temperature and temperature history are partially responsible for the formation of NAT PSCs although the occurrence probability at the NAT condensation temperature could be higher in air that has a previous cold temperature history.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Polar stratospheric clouds observed by the ILAS‐II in the Antarctic region: Dual compositions and variation of compositions during June to August of 2003

et al. 2006

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Compositions and effective radii of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) in the Antarctic region from 5 June to 28 August of 2003 are determined using transmittance data from the Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer‐II (ILAS‐II). Dual compositions are derived for 83 Antarctic cases. The primary components are β‐NAT (β form of nitric acid trihydrate), NAW (nitric acid water, or SBS, supercooled binary solution), and ICE. Other minor composition components are LTA (liquid ternary aerosol, or STS, supercooled ternary solution), α‐NAT (α form of NAT), NAD (nitric acid dihydrate), and SAW (sulfuric acid water). Three single compositions are found; that is, β‐NAT particles were observed from 11 June to 12 August, NAW particles were observed from 28 June to 24 July, and ICE particles were observed from 28 July to 25 August. During this period, dual compositions are also found, i.e., NAW + β‐NAT, β‐NAT + ICE, NAW + ICE, β‐NAT + NAD, β‐NAT + LTA, and β‐NAT + SAW. For this observation period, temperatures varied from 195 K to 180 K while measurements were made progressively in time as latitude varied from 65°S to 80°S. This mixture of compositions is assumed to be either two separate patches of PSCs or a mixture of two different types along the line of sight. The feasibility of the coexistence of dual compositions in a PSC and importance of determination of the PSC particle type for the study of heterogeneous chemistry for ozone are briefly discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polar stratospheric clouds observed by the ILAS‐II in the Antarctic region: Dual compositions and variation of compositions during June to August of 2003

et al. 2006

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“…In conclusion, the air masses were below T ICE for short periods before reaching McMurdo, where a warming occurred in most cases. The formation of PSCs in the warming phase has been reported to be more frequent also by POAM III Antarctic measurements [ Steele et al , 2002].…”

Section: Back‐trajectory Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Climatology of polar stratospheric clouds based on lidar observations from 1993 to 2001 over McMurdo Station, Antarctica

et al. 2004

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A climatology of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) based on lidar measurements performed at McMurdo Station, Antarctica (78°S, 167°E) from 1993 to 2001 is presented here. The observations are discussed in terms of occurrence and temporal and spatial variability of PSC types. The climatological analysis reveals that in McMurdo PSCs mainly occur between July and mid‐August. During this time their altitude changes from 22 to 14 km, following the stratospheric temperature minimum trend. At the beginning of the accounted period (1993–1994), volcanic aerosols from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 were still present in the southern polar vortex. Therefore these 2 years have been corrected for the direct contribution of the volcanic aerosol to the backscatter signal. A close examination of the data set evidences that most PSCs appear either as rather thin layers (<1 km) or as layers with a considerably higher thickness. Therefore all observed PSCs have been divided into two classes, depending on the variation of the backscattering ratio with respect to the altitude (e.g., small‐scale variations, or SSV, and large‐scale variations, or LSV). The seasonal behavior and the occurrence of PSC types under each class have been studied, keeping 1993 and 1994 separated to better highlighting the effect of the volcanic aerosol load on cloud properties. Finally, in order to shed some light on PSC formation, back‐trajectory analysis has been performed for retrieving thermal histories of opportunely selected PSCs.

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“…Larsen et al (1997) presented evidence from Arctic balloonborne backscatter sonde observations for the effects of temperature history on NAT PSC formation, such as temperature oscillations and duration of exposure below T NAT . In a study of Antarctic POAM PSC observations, Steele et al (2002) concluded that other factors besides temperature history are likely to be a critical aspect of NAT PSC formation. The presence of aerosol impurities such as soot, meteoritic debris, and effects of ionization by cosmic rays have been proposed as agents which may act to promote freezing (Zondlo et al, 2000;Yu, 2004;Voigt et al, 2005).…”

Section: Nucleation Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A-train CALIOP and MLS observations of early winter Antarctic polar stratospheric clouds and nitric acid in 2008

et al. 2012

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Abstract. A-train Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS)observations are used to investigate the development of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) and the gas-phase nitric acid distribution in the early 2008 Antarctic winter. Observational evidence of gravity-wave activity is provided by Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) radiances and infrared spectroscopic detection of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) in PSCs is obtained from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS). Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System (GEOS-5 DAS) analyses are used to derive Lagrangian trajectories and to determine temperature-time histories of air parcels. We use CALIOP backscatter and depolarization measurements to classify PSCs and the MLS measurements to determine the corresponding gas-phase HNO 3 as a function of temperature. For liquid PSCs the uptake of HNO 3 follows the theoretical equilibrium curve for supercooled ternary solutions (STS), but at temperatures about 1 K lower as determined from GEOS-5. In the presence of solid phase PSCs, above the ice frost-point, the HNO 3 depletion occurs over a wider range of temperatures (+2 to −7 K) distributed about the NAT equilibrium curve. Rapid gas-phase HNO 3 depletion is first seen by MLS from from 23-25 May 2008, consisting of a decrease in the volume mixing ratio from 14 ppbv (parts per billion by volume) to 7 ppbv on the 46-32 hPa (hectopascal) pressure levels and accompanied by a 2-3 ppbv increase by renitrification at the 68 hPa pressure level. The observed region of depleted HNO 3 is substantially smaller than the region bounded by the NAT existence temperature threshold. Temperature-time histories of air parcels demonstrate that the depletion is more clearly correlated with prior exposure to temperatures a few kelvin above the frost-point. From the combined data we infer the presence of large-size NAT particles with effective radii >5-7 µm and low NAT number densities <1 × 10 −3 cm −3 . This denitrification event is observed close to the pole in the Antarctic vortex before synoptic temperatures first fall below the ice frost point and before the widespread occurrence of large-scale NAT PSCs. An episode of mountain wave activity detected by AIRS on 28 May 2008 led to wave-ice formation in the rapid cooling phases over the Antarctic Peninsula and Ellsworth Mountains, seeding an outbreak of NAT PSCs that were detected by CALIOP and MIPAS. The NAT clouds formed at altitudes of 18-26 km in a polar freezing belt and appear to be composed of relatively small particles with estimated effective radii of around 1 µm and high NAT number densities >0.2 cm −3 . This NAT outbreak is similar to an event previously reported from MIPAS observations in mid-June 2003.

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Role of temperature history in polar stratospheric cloud sightings

Cited by 5 publications

References 55 publications

Polar stratospheric clouds observed by the ILAS‐II in the Antarctic region: Dual compositions and variation of compositions during June to August of 2003

Polar stratospheric clouds observed by the ILAS‐II in the Antarctic region: Dual compositions and variation of compositions during June to August of 2003

Climatology of polar stratospheric clouds based on lidar observations from 1993 to 2001 over McMurdo Station, Antarctica

A-train CALIOP and MLS observations of early winter Antarctic polar stratospheric clouds and nitric acid in 2008

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