Journal
ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC SCIENCE LETTERS
Volume 5, Issue 3, Pages 183-188Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/16742834.2012.11446986
Keywords
stratospheric sudden warming; atmospheric dynamics; middle atmosphere; planetary wave reflection
Categories
Funding
- National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) [2010CB428603]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [40805017, 41175041]
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Using ECWMF ERA-40 and Interim reanalysis data, the planetary wave fluxes associated with the February extreme stratospheric polar vortex were studied. Using the three-dimensional Eliassen-Palm (EP) flux as a measure of the wave activity propagation, the authors show that the unusual warm years in the Arctic feature an anomalous weak stratosphere-troposphere coupling and weak downward wave flux at the lower stratosphere, especially over the North America and North Atlantic (NANA) region. The extremely cold years are characterized by strong stratosphere-troposphere coupling and strong downward wave flux in this region. The refractive index is used to examine the conception of planetary wave reflection, which shows a large refractive index (low reflection) for the extremely warm years and a small refractive index (high reflection) for the extremely cold years. This study reveals the importance of the downward planetary wave propagation from the stratosphere to the troposphere for explaining the unusual state of the stratospheric polar vortex in February.
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