Impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics
Geomagnetic excursions, i.e. short periods in time with much weaker geomagnetic fields and substantial changes in the position of the geomagnetic pole, occurred repeatedly in the Earth's history, e.g. the Laschamp event about 41 kyr ago. Although the next such excursion is certain to come, litt...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:37ff7225d7034484b0fefd8ddd12287b 2023-05-15T14:02:25+02:00 Impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics I. Suter R. Zech J. G. Anet T. Peter 2014-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-10-1183-2014 https://doaj.org/article/37ff7225d7034484b0fefd8ddd12287b EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.clim-past.net/10/1183/2014/cp-10-1183-2014.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1814-9324 https://doaj.org/toc/1814-9332 1814-9324 1814-9332 doi:10.5194/cp-10-1183-2014 https://doaj.org/article/37ff7225d7034484b0fefd8ddd12287b Climate of the Past, Vol 10, Iss 3, Pp 1183-1194 (2014) Environmental pollution TD172-193.5 Environmental protection TD169-171.8 Environmental sciences GE1-350 article 2014 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-10-1183-2014 2022-12-31T12:39:09Z Geomagnetic excursions, i.e. short periods in time with much weaker geomagnetic fields and substantial changes in the position of the geomagnetic pole, occurred repeatedly in the Earth's history, e.g. the Laschamp event about 41 kyr ago. Although the next such excursion is certain to come, little is known about the timing and possible consequences for the state of the atmosphere and the ecosystems. Here we use the global chemistry climate model SOCOL-MPIOM to simulate the effects of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric ionization, chemistry and dynamics. Our simulations show significantly increased concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) in the entire stratosphere, especially over Antarctica (+15%), due to enhanced ionization by galactic cosmic rays. Hydrogen oxides (HO x ) are also produced in greater amounts (up to +40%) in the tropical and subtropical lower stratosphere, while their destruction by reactions with enhanced NO x prevails over the poles and in high altitudes (by −5%). Stratospheric ozone concentrations decrease globally above 20 km by 1–2% and at the northern hemispheric tropopause by up to 5% owing to the accelerated NO x -induced destruction. A 5% increase is found in the southern lower stratosphere and troposphere. In response to these changes in ozone and the concomitant changes in atmospheric heating rates, the Arctic vortex intensifies in boreal winter, while the Antarctic vortex weakens in austral winter and spring. Surface wind anomalies show significant intensification of the southern westerlies at their poleward edge during austral winter and a pronounced northward shift in spring. Major impacts on the global climate seem unlikely. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic Geomagnetic Pole Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Antarctic The Antarctic Austral Climate of the Past 10 3 1183 1194 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental pollution TD172-193.5 Environmental protection TD169-171.8 Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental pollution TD172-193.5 Environmental protection TD169-171.8 Environmental sciences GE1-350 I. Suter R. Zech J. G. Anet T. Peter Impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics |
topic_facet |
Environmental pollution TD172-193.5 Environmental protection TD169-171.8 Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
description |
Geomagnetic excursions, i.e. short periods in time with much weaker geomagnetic fields and substantial changes in the position of the geomagnetic pole, occurred repeatedly in the Earth's history, e.g. the Laschamp event about 41 kyr ago. Although the next such excursion is certain to come, little is known about the timing and possible consequences for the state of the atmosphere and the ecosystems. Here we use the global chemistry climate model SOCOL-MPIOM to simulate the effects of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric ionization, chemistry and dynamics. Our simulations show significantly increased concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) in the entire stratosphere, especially over Antarctica (+15%), due to enhanced ionization by galactic cosmic rays. Hydrogen oxides (HO x ) are also produced in greater amounts (up to +40%) in the tropical and subtropical lower stratosphere, while their destruction by reactions with enhanced NO x prevails over the poles and in high altitudes (by −5%). Stratospheric ozone concentrations decrease globally above 20 km by 1–2% and at the northern hemispheric tropopause by up to 5% owing to the accelerated NO x -induced destruction. A 5% increase is found in the southern lower stratosphere and troposphere. In response to these changes in ozone and the concomitant changes in atmospheric heating rates, the Arctic vortex intensifies in boreal winter, while the Antarctic vortex weakens in austral winter and spring. Surface wind anomalies show significant intensification of the southern westerlies at their poleward edge during austral winter and a pronounced northward shift in spring. Major impacts on the global climate seem unlikely. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
I. Suter R. Zech J. G. Anet T. Peter |
author_facet |
I. Suter R. Zech J. G. Anet T. Peter |
author_sort |
I. Suter |
title |
Impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics |
title_short |
Impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics |
title_full |
Impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics |
title_fullStr |
Impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics |
title_sort |
impact of geomagnetic excursions on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-10-1183-2014 https://doaj.org/article/37ff7225d7034484b0fefd8ddd12287b |
geographic |
Arctic Antarctic The Antarctic Austral |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Antarctic The Antarctic Austral |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic Geomagnetic Pole |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic Geomagnetic Pole |
op_source |
Climate of the Past, Vol 10, Iss 3, Pp 1183-1194 (2014) |
op_relation |
http://www.clim-past.net/10/1183/2014/cp-10-1183-2014.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1814-9324 https://doaj.org/toc/1814-9332 1814-9324 1814-9332 doi:10.5194/cp-10-1183-2014 https://doaj.org/article/37ff7225d7034484b0fefd8ddd12287b |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-10-1183-2014 |
container_title |
Climate of the Past |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
1183 |
op_container_end_page |
1194 |
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1766272694516449280 |