Ozone during sudden stratospheric warming: A three-dimensional simulation

Abstract

Sudden warmings which are currently observed in the winter stratosphere are believed to be due to the upward propagation of planetary waves originating in the troposphere. Major warmings are characterized by local increases of the temperature in a deep layer beyond the stratopause, with values of the order of 50 K at 10 mbar appearing over a short period of time and leading to significant changes in the rate constant of several chemical reactions. During such events, the dynamical fields in the stratosphere are completely altered, so that dramatic changes in the transport of trace constituents are expected. Preliminary results of a 3-D model simulation of the ozone behavior during winter in connection with the appearance of stratospheric warmings are reported. The middle stratosphere (12 mbar or approximately 32 km) where the chemical lifetime of odd oxygen is quite long, and consequently, transport plays a major role is emphasized.