References

ACP

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

ACP

1680-7324

Copernicus GmbH

Göttingen, Germany

10.5194/acp-11-4645-2011

Mesosphere-to-stratosphere descent of odd nitrogen in February–March 2009 after sudden stratospheric warming

Salmi

S.-M.

¹ ² Verronen

P. T.

¹ Thölix

¹ Kyrölä

¹ Backman

¹ Karpechko

A. Yu.

¹ Seppälä

¹ ³

Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland

Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

British Antarctic Survey (NERC), Cambridge, UK

18 05 2011

11 10 4645 4655

This is an open-access article ditributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

This article is available from http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/4645/2011/acp-11-4645-2011.html

The full text article is available as a PDF file from http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/4645/2011/acp-11-4645-2011.pdf

We use the 3-D FinROSE chemistry transport model (CTM) and Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) observations to study connections between atmospheric dynamics and middle atmospheric NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) distribution. Two cases are considered in the northern polar regions: (1) descent of mesospheric NOx in February–March 2009 after a major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) and, for comparison, (2) early 2007 when no NOx descent occurred. The model uses the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) operational data for winds and temperature, and we force NOx at the model upper altitude boundary (80 km) with ACE-FTS observations. We then compare the model results with ACE-FTS observations at lower altitudes. For the periods studied, geomagnetic indices are low, which indicates absence of local NOx production by particle precipitation. This gives us a good opportunity to study effects of atmospheric transport on polar NOx. The model results show no NOx descent in 2007, in agreement with ACE-FTS. In contrast, a large amount of NOx descends in February–March 2009 from the upper to lower mesosphere at latitudes larger than 60° N, i.e. inside the polar vortex. Both observations and model results suggest NOx increases of 150–200 ppb (i.e. by factor of 50) at 65 km due to the descent. However, the model underestimates the amount of NOx around 55 km by 40–60 ppb. According to the model results, chemical loss of NOx is insignificant during the descent period, i.e. polar NOx is mainly controlled by dynamics. The descent is terminated and the polar NOx amounts return to pre-descent levels in mid-March, when the polar vortex breaks. The break-up prevents the descending NOx from reaching the upper stratosphere, where it could participate in catalytic ozone destruction. Both ACE-FTS observations and FinROSE show a decrease of ozone of 20–30 % at 30–50 km from mid-February to mid-March. In the model, these ozone changes are not related to the descent but are due to solar activation of halogen and NOx chemistry.

References 1

Arnold, N. F. and Robinson, T. R.: Solar magnetic flux influences on the dynamics of the winter middle atmosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28(12), 2381–2384, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2000GL012825doi:10.1029/2000GL012825, 2001.

Barth, C. A.: Nitric oxide in the lower thermosphere, Planet. Space Sci., 40, 315–336, 1992.

Baumgaertner, A. J. G., Jöckel, P., and Brühl, C.: Energetic particle precipitation in ECHAM5/MESSy1 – Part 1: Downward transport of upper atmospheric NOx produced by low energy electrons, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 2729–2740, http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-2729-2009doi:10.5194/acp-9-2729-2009, 2009.

Baumgaertner, A. J. G., Seppälä, A., Jöckel, P., and Clilverd, M. A.: Geomagnetic activity related NOx enhancements and polar surface air temperature variability in a chemistry climate model: modulation of the NAM index, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 10, 30171–30203, http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acpd-10-30171-2010doi:10.5194/acpd-10-30171-2010, 2010.

Bernath, P. F., McElroy, C. T., Abrams, M. C., Boone, C. D., Butler, M., Camy-Peyret, C., Carleer, M., Clerbaux, C., Coheur, P.-F., Colin, R., DeCola, P., DeMaziére, M., Drummond, J. R., Dufour, D., Evans, W. F. J., Fast, H., Fussen, D., Gilbert, K., Jennings, D. E., Llewellyn, E. J., Lowe, R. P., Mahieu, E., McConnell, J. C., McHugh, M., McLeod, S. D., Michaud, R., Midwinter, C., Nassar, R., Nichitiu, F., Nowlan, C., Rinsland, C. P., Rochon, Y. J., Rowlands, N., Semeniuk, K., Simon, P., Skelton, R., Sloan, J. J., Soucy, M.-A., Strong, K., Tremblay, P., Turnbull, D., Walker, K. A., Walkty, I., Wardle, D. A., Wehrle, V., Zander, R., and Zou, J.: Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE): Mission overview, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L15S01, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005GL022386doi:10.1029/2005GL022386, 2005.

Callis, L. B. and Lambeth, J. D.: NOy formed by precipitating electron events in 1991 and 1992: Descent into the stratosphere as observed by ISAMS, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 1875–1878, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/98GL01219doi:10.1029/98GL01219, 1998.

Callis, L. B., Natarajan, M., and Lambeth, J. D.: Calculated upper stratospheric effects of solar UV flux and NOy variations during the 11-year solar cycle, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27(23), 3869–3872, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2000GL011622doi:10.1029/2000GL011622, 2000.

Callis, L. B., Natarajan, M., and Lambeth, J. D.: Solar-atmospheric coupling by electrons (SOLACE) 3, Comparisons of simulations and observations, 1979-1997, issues and implications, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 7523–7539, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2000JD900615doi:10.1029/2000JD900615, 2001.

Clilverd, M. A., Seppälä, A., Rodger, C. J., Verronen, P. T., and Thomson, N. R.: Ionospheric evidence of thermosphere-to-stratosphere descent of polar NOx, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L19811, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2006GL026727doi:10.1029/2006GL026727, 2006.

Damski, J., Thölix, L., Backman, L., Taalas, P. and Kulmala, M.: FinROSE – middle atmospheric chemistry transport model, Boreal Env. Res., 12, 535–550, 2007.

Funke, B., Lopéz-Puertas, M., Gil-López, S., von Clarmann, T., Stiller, G. P., Fischer, H., and Kellmann, S.: Downward transport of upper atmospheric NOx into the polar stratosphere and lower mesosphere during the Antarctic 2003 and Arctic 2002/2003 winters, J. Geophys. Res., 110, D24308, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005JD006463doi:10.1029/2005JD006463, 2005.

Funke, B., Lopéz-Puertas, M., Fischer, H., Stiller, G. P., von Clarmann, T., Wetzel, G., Carli, B., and Belotti, C.: Comment on "Origin of the January–April 2004 increase in stratospheric \chemNO_2 observed in northern polar latitudes", by: Jean-Baptiste Renard et al., Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L07813, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2006GL027518doi:10.1029/2006GL027518, 2007.

Grenfell, J. L., Lehmann, R., Mieth, P., Langematz, U., and Steil, B.: Chemical reation pathways affecting stratospheric and mesospheric ozone, J. Geophys. Res., 111, D17311, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2004JD005713doi:10.1029/2004JD005713, 2006.

Hauchecorne, A., Bertaux, J.-L., Dalaudier, F., Russell III, J. M., Mlynczak, M. G., Kyrölä, E., and Fussen, D., : Large increase of \chemNO_2 in the north polar mesosphere in January–February 2004: Evidence of a dynamical origin from GOMOS/ENVISAT and SABER/TIMED data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L03810, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2006GL027628doi:10.1029/2006GL027628, 2007.

Kylling, A., Albold, A. and Seckmeyer, G.: Transmittance of a cloud is wavelength – dependent in the UV-range: Physical interpretation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 24(4), 397–400, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/97GL00111doi:10.1029/97GL00111, 1997.

Langematz, U., Grenfell, J. L., Matthes, K., Mieth, P., Kunze, M., Steil, B., and Brühl, C.: Chemical effects in 11-year solar cycle simulations with the Freie Universität Berlin Climate Middle Atmosphere Model with online chemistry (FUB-CMAM-CHEM), Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L13803, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005GL022686doi:10.1029/2005GL022686, 2005.

Lu, H., Clilverd, M. A., Seppälä, A., and Hood, L. L.: Geomagnetic perturbations on stratospheric circulation in late winter and spring, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D16106, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007JD008915doi:10.1029/2007JD008915, 2008.

Manney, G. L., Daffer, W. H., Strawbridge, K. B., Walker, K. A., Boone, C. D., Bernath, P. F., Kerzenmacher, T., Schwartz, M. J., Strong, K., Sica, R. J., Krüger, K., Pumphrey, H. C., Lambert, A., Santee, M. L., Livesey, N. J., Remsberg, E. E., Mlynczak, M. G., and Russell III, J. R.: The high Arctic in extreme winters: vortex, temperature, and MLS and ACE-FTS trace gas evolution, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 505–522, http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-8-505-2008doi:10.5194/acp-8-505-2008, 2008.

Manney, G. L., Schwartz, M. J., Krüger, K., Santee, M. L., Pawson, S., Lee, J. N., Daffer, W. H., Fuller, R. A., and Livesey, N. J.: Aura Microwave Limb Sounder observations of dynamics and transport during the record-breaking 2009 Arctic stratosphere major warming, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L12815, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2009GL038586doi:10.1029/2009GL038586, 2009.

McInturff, R.: Stratospheric warmings: Synoptic, dynamic and general-circulation aspects, NASA Reference Publ. NASA-RP-1017, NASA, Natl. Meteorol. Cent., Washington, DC, 1978.

Randall, C. E., Harvey, V. L., Siskind, D. E., France, J., Bernath, P. F., Boone, C. D., and Walker, K. A.: NOx descent in the Arctic middle atmosphere in early 2009, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L18811, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2009GL039706doi:10.1029/2009GL039706, 2009.

Reddmann, T., Ruhnke, R., Versick, S., and Kouker, W.: Modeling disturbed stratospheric chemistry during solar-induced NOx enhancements observed with MIPAS/ENVISAT, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D00I11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012569doi:10.1029/2009JD012569, 2010.

Rozanov, E., Callis, L., Schlesinger, M., Yang, F., Andronova, N., and Zubov, V.: Atmospheric response to NOy source due to energetic electron precipitation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L14811, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005GL023041doi:10.1029/2005GL023041, 2005.

Sander, S. P., Friedl, R. R., Golden, D. M., Kurylo, M. J., Moortgat, G. K., Keller-Rudek, H., Wine, P. H., Ravishankara, A. R., Kolb, C. E., Molina, M. J., Finlayson-Pitts, B. J., Huie, R. E., and Orkin, V. L.: Chemical kinetics and photochemical data for Use in Atmospheric Studies, Evaluation Number 15, Publication 06-2, JPL, Pasadena, USA, 2006.

Seppälä, A., Verronen, P. T., Clilverd, M. A., Randall, C. E., Tamminen, J., Sofieva, V., Backman, L., and Kyrölä, E.: Arctic and Antarctic polar winter NOx and energetic particle precipitation in 2002–2006, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L12810, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007GL029733doi:10.1029/2007GL029733, 2007.

Seppälä, A., Randall, C., Clilverd, M. A., Rozanov, E., and Rodger, C. J.: Geomagnetic activity and polar surface air temperature variability, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A10312, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2008JA014029doi:10.1029/2008JA014029, 2009.

Siskind, D. E., Bacmeister, J. T., Summers, M. E., and Russell III, J. M.: Two-dimensional model calculations of nitric oxide transport in the middle atmosphere and comparison with Halogen Occultation Experiment data, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 3527–3546, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/96JD02970doi:10.1029/96JD02970, 1997.

Solomon, S., Crutzen, P. J., and Roble, R. G.: Photochemical coupling between the thermosphere and the lower atmosphere: 1 odd nitrogen from 50 to 120 km, J. Geophys. Res., 87(C9), 7206–7220, 1982.

Vitt, F. M., Armstrong, T. P., Cravens, T. E., Dreschhoff, A. M., Jackman, C. H., and Laird, C. M.: Computed contributions to odd nitrogen concentrations in the Earth's polar middle atmosphere by energetic charged particles, J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys., 62, 669–683, 2000.

Vogel, B., Konopka, P., Grooß, J.-U., Müller, R., Funke, B., López-Puertas, M., Reddmann, T., Stiller, G., von Clarmann, T., and Riese, M.: Model simulations of stratospheric ozone loss caused by enhanced mesospheric NOx during Arctic Winter 2003/2004, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 5279–5293, http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-8-5279-2008doi:10.5194/acp-8-5279-2008, 2008.