Fine‐scale, poleward transport of tropical air during AASE 2

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 21; no. 23; pp. 2603 - 2606
• Main Authors: Waugh, D. W., Plumb, R. A., Newman, P. A., Schoeberl, M. R., Lait, L. R., Loewenstein, M., Podolske, J. R., Elkins, J. W., Chan, K. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Legacy CDMS American Geophysical Union 15.11.1994; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Aircraft; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Expeditions; External geophysics; Filaments; General properties of the high atmosphere; Geophysics; Mathematical analysis; Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics; Middle atmosphere dynamics; Physics of the high neutral atmosphere; Shape; Transport; Winter; Airplane; Atmospheric dynamics; Air flow; Tropical zone; Stratosphere; Polar region; Vortex; Transport
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/94GL01082

The poleward transport of tropical air in the lower stratosphere during the winter period of the second Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (AASE 2) (December 1991-March 1992) is examined using contour advection calcutions. These calculations show that filaments of tropical air extend into mid-latitudes, and are wrapped around the equatorward edge of the polar jet. Simultaneously filaments are drawn from the polar vortex and are intermingled with the filaments of tropical air. The tropical filaments are consistent with measurements of chemical tracers taken aboard the ER-2 and DC-8 aircraft which show localized regions, in mid-latitudes, of air with the characteristics of tropical air.