Stratospheric Meteorological Conditions in the Arctic Polar Vortex, 1991 to 1992

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Newman, P., Lait, L. R., Schoeberl, M., Nash, E. R., Kelly, K., Fahey, D. W., Nagatani, R., Toohey, D., Avallone, L., Anderson, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 1993
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.261.5125.1143; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.261.5125.1143

Stratospheric meteorological conditions during the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition II (AASE II) presented excellent observational opportunities from Bangor, Maine, because the polar vortex was located over southeastern Canada for significant periods during the 1991-1992 winter. Temperature analyses showed that nitric acid trihydrates (NAT temperatures below 195 k) should have formed over small regions in early December. The temperatures in the polar vortex warmed beyond NAT temperatures by late January (earlier than normal). Perturbed chemistry was found to be associated with these cold temperatures.