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Winter/summer mesopause temperature transition at Davis (69°S) in 2011/2012

Lübken, F.-J. and Höffner, J. and Viehl, T. P. and Kaifler, Bernd and Morris, R. J. (2014) Winter/summer mesopause temperature transition at Davis (69°S) in 2011/2012. Geophysical Research Letters, 41 (14), pp. 5233-5238. Wiley. doi: 10.1002/2014GL060777. ISSN 0094-8276.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014GL060777

Abstract

We present quasi-continuous measurements of temperature profiles in the Southern Hemisphere mesopause region during the transition from winter to summer conditions in 2011/2012. In a period of 120 days around solstice, we have performed iron lidar observations at Davis (69°S), Antarctica, for a total of 736 h. The winter/summer transition is identified by a downward shift of the mesopause which occurs on 8 November 2011. Soon after transition, mesopause heights and temperatures are similar to the Northern Hemisphere (NH) colatitude summer (88 km, 130 K). Around solstice, the mesopause is elevated for several days by 4–5 km and is colder than typical NH temperatures by 10 K. In this period individual profiles show temperatures as low as 100 K. The occurrence of polar mesosphere summer echoes is closely connected to low temperatures. Below 88 to 90 km and in the main summer season of 2011/2012 temperatures at Davis are generally warmer compared to the NH by 5–15 K, whereas temperatures are generally colder above 90 km. The winter/summer transition and the first appearance of polar mesosphere summer echoes are strongly correlated to maximum zonal winds in the stratosphere which constrain gravity waves with eastward momentum reaching the mesosphere. At the breakdown of the stratospheric vortex around solstice, the mesopause is higher and, surprisingly, colder than normal.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/92939/
Document Type:Article
Title:Winter/summer mesopause temperature transition at Davis (69°S) in 2011/2012
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iDORCID Put Code
Lübken, F.-J.Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Kühlungsborn, GermanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Höffner, J.Univ. RostockUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Viehl, T. P.Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Kühlungsborn, GermanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Kaifler, BerndDLR, IPAUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Morris, R. J.Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania, AustraliaUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date:17 July 2014
Journal or Publication Title:Geophysical Research Letters
Refereed publication:Yes
Open Access:Yes
Gold Open Access:No
In SCOPUS:Yes
In ISI Web of Science:Yes
Volume:41
DOI:10.1002/2014GL060777
Page Range:pp. 5233-5238
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0094-8276
Status:Published
Keywords:Antarctic mesopause, lidar temperatures, winter/summer transition
HGF - Research field:Aeronautics, Space and Transport
HGF - Program:Space
HGF - Program Themes:Earth Observation
DLR - Research area:Raumfahrt
DLR - Program:R EO - Earth Observation
DLR - Research theme (Project):R - Atmospheric and climate research
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen
Institutes and Institutions:Institute of Atmospheric Physics > Lidar
Deposited By: Kaifler, Dr. Natalie
Deposited On:02 Dec 2014 11:29
Last Modified:31 Jul 2019 19:50

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