OSIRIS observations of a tongue of NO x in the lower stratosphere at the Antarctic vortex edge: comparison with a high-resolution simulation from the Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Physics
• Main Authors: Sioris, C E, Chabrillat, S, McLinden, C A, Haley, C S, Rochon, Y J, Ménard, R, Charron, M, McElroy, C T
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2007
• Subjects: General Physics and Astronomy; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Austral; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/p07-123; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/p07-123

Selected NO x profiles of the Antarctic lower stratosphere inferred from OSIRIS NO 2 observations are presented from the austral spring of 2003. These observations show a tongue of NO x at 100 hPa, with a concentration typical of the middle stratosphere. Simulations with the Global Environmental Multiscale model show that this small-scale tongue of NO x -rich air descended into the lower stratosphere. The tongue was formed as a result of a Rossby wave breaking days earlier, transporting NO x from the pole, where larger concentrations had recently appeared, to the edge of the vortex. The three-dimensional structure of the breaking wave is illustrated in detail. PACS Nos.: 92.60.hf, 92.60.Xg, 93.30.Ca