Stratospheric Ozone Changes Damp the CO2-Induced Acceleration of the Brewer-Dobson Circulation

The increase of atmospheric CO2 concentrations changes the atmospheric temperature distribution, which in turn affects the circulation. A robust circulation response to CO2 forcing is the strengthening of the stratospheric Brewer-Dobson circulation (BDC), with associated consequences for transport of trace gases such as ozone. Ozone is further affected by the CO2-induced stratospheric cooling via the temperature dependency of ozone chemistry. These ozone changes in turn influence stratospheric temperatures and thereby modify the CO2-induced circulation changes. In this study, we perform dedicated model simulations to quantify the modification of the circulation response to CO2 forcing by stratospheric ozone. Specifically, we compare simulations of the atmosphere with preindustrial and with quadrupled CO2 climate conditions, in which stratospheric ozone is held fixed or is adapted to the new climate state. The results of the residual circulation and mean age of air show that ozone changes damp the CO2-induced BDC increase by up to 20%. This damping of the BDC strengthening is linked to an ozone-induced relative enhancement of the meridional temperature gradient in the lower stratosphere in summer, thereby leading to stronger stratospheric easterlies that suppress wave propagation. Additionally, we find a systematic weakening of the polar vortices in winter and spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, ozone reduces the CO2-induced delay of the final warming date by 50%.

Automated summary

The increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations affects circulation by changing the atmospheric temperature distribution. This study quantifies the modification of the circulation response to CO2 forcing by stratospheric ozone through model simulations. The results show that ozone changes dampen the CO2-induced strengthening of the circulation, leading to various impacts on temperature gradients and polar vortices.