Radiative effects of polar stratospheric clouds during the Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment and the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition

1992 ◽  
Vol 97 (D8) ◽  
pp. 7841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan E. Rosenfield
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Effects ◽  
Polar Stratospheric Clouds ◽  
Antarctic Ozone ◽  
Stratospheric Clouds ◽  
Ozone Experiment

scholarly journals Maintenance of polar stratospheric clouds in a moist stratosphere

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Kirk-Davidoff ◽  
J.-F. Lamarque
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Particle Number Density ◽  
Water Vapor Transport ◽  
Number Density ◽  
Radiative Effects ◽  
Polar Stratospheric Clouds ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Stratospheric Water Vapor ◽  
Microphysical Parameters ◽  
Stratospheric Clouds

Abstract. Previous work has shown that polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) could have acted to substantially warm high latitude regions during past warm climates such as the Eocene (55 Ma). Using a simple model of stratospheric water vapor transport and polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) formation, we investigate the dependence of PSC optical depth on tropopause temperature, cloud microphysical parameters, stratospheric overturning, and tropospheric methane. We show that PSC radiative effects can help slow removal of water from the stratosphere via self-heating. However, we also show that the ability of PSCs to have a substantial impact on climate depends strongly on the PSC particle number density and the strength of the overturning circulation. Thus even a large source of stratospheric water vapor (e.g. from methane oxidation) will not result in substantial PSC radiative effects unless PSC ice crystal number density is high compared to most current observations, and stratospheric overturning (which modulates polar stratospheric temperatures) is low. These results are supported by analysis of a series of runs of the NCAR WACCM model with methane concentrations varying up to one thousand times present levels.

Influence of polar stratospheric clouds on the depletion of Antarctic ozone

1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 871-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross J. Salawitch ◽  
Steven C. Wofsy ◽  
Michael B. McElroy
Keyword(s):  
Polar Stratospheric Clouds ◽  
Antarctic Ozone ◽  
Stratospheric Clouds

scholarly journals Maintenance of polar stratospheric clouds in a moist stratosphere

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 935-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Kirk-Davidoff ◽  
J.-F. Lamarque
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Particle Number Density ◽  
Water Vapor Transport ◽  
Number Density ◽  
Radiative Effects ◽  
Polar Stratospheric Clouds ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Stratospheric Water Vapor ◽  
Microphysical Parameters ◽  
Stratospheric Clouds

Abstract. Previous work has shown that polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) could have acted to substantially warm high latitude regions during past warm climates such as the Eocene (55 Ma). Using a simple model of stratospheric water vapor transport and polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) formation, we investigate the dependence of PSC optical depth on tropopause temperature, cloud microphysical parameters, stratospheric overturning, and tropospheric methane. We show that PSC radiative effects can help slow removal of water from the stratosphere via self-heating. However, we also show that the ability of PSCs to have a substantial impact on climate depends strongly on the PSC particle number density and the strength of the overturning circulation. Thus even a large source of stratospheric water vapor (e.g. from methane oxidation) will not result in substantial PSC radiative effects unless PSC ice crystal number density is high, and stratospheric overturning (which modulates polar stratospheric temperatures) is low. These results are supported by analysis of a series of runs of the NCAR WACCM model with methane concentrations varying up to one thousand times present levels.

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