Influence of an Internally-Generated QBO on Modeled Stratospheric Dynamics and Ozone

• Main Authors: Hurwitz, M. M., Song, I. S., Newman, P. A.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Geophysics; Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110013375

A GEOS V2 CCM simulation with an internally generated quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) signal is compared to an otherwise identical simulation without a QBO. In a present-day climate, inclusion of the modeled QBO makes a significant difference to stratospheric dynamics and ozone throughout the year. The QBO enhances variability in the tropics, as expected, but also in the polar stratosphere in some seasons. The modeled QBO also affects the mean stratospheric climate. Because tropical zonal winds in the baseline simulation are generally easterly, there is a relative increase in zonal wind magnitudes in tropical lower and middle stratosphere in the QBO simulation. Extra-tropical differences between the QBO and 'no QBO' simulations thus reflect a bias toward the westerly phase of the QBO: a relative strengthening and poleward shifting the polar stratospheric jets, and a reduction in Arctic lower stratospheric ozone.