Analysis of LIMS data by potential vorticity inversion

Abstract

This paper analyzes LIMS data for a minor warming of January 1979 by potential vorticity inversion, to investigate how flows in the middle atmosphere were determined. The inversion problem of calculating the flow from the potential vorticity is solved repeatedly, including and excluding different portions of the potential vorticity, thus revealing which bits of potential vorticity were important in determining the flow at a time and location of interest. The results of the analysis of LIMS data indicate that the middle stratospheric flow is dominated by potential vorticity that is local in height and in latitude, while planetary-scale mesospheric flows are primarily induced by potential vorticity in the stratosphere. A possible explanation for this difference is proposed.