References

ACP

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

ACP

1680-7324

Copernicus GmbH

Göttingen, Germany

10.5194/acp-7-685-2007

Solid particles in the tropical lowest stratosphere

Nielsen

J. K.

¹ Larsen

¹ Cairo

² Di Donfrancesco

³ Rosen

J. M.

⁴ Durry

⁵ ⁷ Held

⁶ Pommereau

J. P.

⁷

Danish Meteorological Institute, Lyngbyvej 100, 2100 Kbh. Ø, Denmark

Institute for Atmospheric Science and Climate, CNR, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy

Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Environment, ENEA C. R. Cassaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00060 Rome, Italy

University of Wyoming, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA

Groupe de Spectrometrie Moleculaire et Atmospherique, CNRS, Universite de Reims , 51687 Reims, France

Instituto de Pesquisas Meteorológicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, CX Postal, 281 17015-970 BAURU, S. P., Brasil

CNRS, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Service d'Aeronomie, B.P. 3, 91371 Verrieres le Buisson Cedex, France

12 02 2007

7 3 685 695

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We report in situ and remote observations proving occasional occurrence of solid particles in the tropical lowest stratosphere, 200 km from deep convective events. The particles were found during field campaigns in Southeast Brazil (49.03 W 22.36 S). They occur in the altitude range from 17.5 to 20.8 km, at temperatures up to at least 10 K above the expected frost point temperature. While stability of ice particles at these altitudes is unexpected from a theoretical point of view, it is argued that these observations are indications of tropospheric air masses penetrating into the stratosphere during convective overshoots. It is argued that the intrusion of tropospheric air must have carried a large amount of water with it, which effectively hydrated the lowest stratosphere, and consequently suppressed sublimation. This conclusion is further supported by a separate water vapor mixing ratio profile obtained at the same observation site.

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