On the occurrence, the characterization and the dynamical processes associated with FrIAC's (Frozen In Anticyclones) events

Rémi Thiéblemont (1) , Nathalie Huret (1) , Y. Orsolini (2) , Alain Hauchecorne (3) , M. Drouin (1)

1 LPC2E - Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace
2 NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research
3 STRATO - LATMOS

During winter, the polar vortex forms in arctic stratosphere a dynamical barrier which prevents large scale exchanges between high latitude and tropical regions. However, thin tropical air mass intrusions at the edge of the polar vortex have already been detected and modelled. These structures could play an important role for the knowledge of the balance between chemistry and dynamical processes associated with ozone budget. During springtime, after the final stratospheric warming, the breakdown of the polar vortex occurs and the summer circulation starts to develop. Air mass intrusions from the tropics can be trapped into the polar latitudes in an anticyclone which can persist until August, advected by summer easterlies. These structures, named “Frozen In Anticyclones” (FrIAC’s), have already been observed in 2003 and 2005 by MIPAS-ENVISAT and MLS-AURA instruments. We present here a new case of FrIAC in 2007 highlighted using MLS-AURA measurements. Time evolution of N2O and H2O mixing ratios in the core of this FRIAC are compared with the 2005 similar event. In addition, we perform a climatology of tropical air mass intrusions during the last decade based on the results of the potential vorticity contour advection model MIMOSA (Hauchecorne et al., 2002) and MLS-AURA measurements. This climatology reveals a favourite path for exchanges between polar and tropical stratosphere allowing us to establish closed links between FrIAC’s occurrence and Rossby wave activity. Using wind and temperature fields from ECMWF, we performed a study to understand dynamical processes responsible of such dynamical structures. Discussion on the link between them and Sudden Stratospheric Warming, Final Stratsopheric Warming and Quasi Biennal Oscillation will be presented. This study is made in the framework the STRAPOLETE project which has started on January 2009 to study the Arctic stratosphere in the summertime.

Domaines: Physique Atmosphérique et Océanique [physics.ao-ph]

Rémi Thiéblemont, Nathalie Huret, Y. Orsolini, Alain Hauchecorne, M. Drouin. On the occurrence, the characterization and the dynamical processes associated with FrIAC's (Frozen In Anticyclones) events. American Geophysical Union Fall meeting 2010, Dec 2010, San francisco, United States. pp.A32B-07. ⟨hal-03548986⟩