On the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling

<p>Studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling, particularly those seeking to understand the dynamical processes underlying the coupling following extreme events such as major stratospheric warmings, suffer significantly from the relatively small number of such events in the “satellite” era (...

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Main Author: P. Hitchcock
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2019-03-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/2749/2019/acp-19-2749-2019.pdf
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author P. Hitchcock
P. Hitchcock
author_facet P. Hitchcock
P. Hitchcock
author_sort P. Hitchcock
collection DOAJ
description <p>Studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling, particularly those seeking to understand the dynamical processes underlying the coupling following extreme events such as major stratospheric warmings, suffer significantly from the relatively small number of such events in the “satellite” era (1979 to present). This limited sampling of a highly variable dynamical system means that composite averages tend to have large uncertainties. Including years during which radiosonde observations of the stratosphere were of sufficiently high quality substantially extends this record, reducing this sampling uncertainty by up to 20&thinsp;%. Moreover, many open questions in this field involve aspects of tropospheric dynamics likely to be better constrained by “conventional” (i.e. radiosonde and surface-based) observations.</p> <p>Based on an intercomparison of reanalyses, a quantitative case is made that for many purposes the improved sampling obtained by including this period outweighs the reduced precision of the reanalyses in the Northern Hemisphere. Studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling should therefore consider the use of this period when using reanalysis data. These results also support continued attention on this period from centres producing reanalyses.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-848c03707df344098bc8f4b0cfa56be12022-12-22T03:42:37ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242019-03-01192749276410.5194/acp-19-2749-2019On the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere–troposphere couplingP. Hitchcock0P. Hitchcock1Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, Francecurrent address: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA<p>Studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling, particularly those seeking to understand the dynamical processes underlying the coupling following extreme events such as major stratospheric warmings, suffer significantly from the relatively small number of such events in the “satellite” era (1979 to present). This limited sampling of a highly variable dynamical system means that composite averages tend to have large uncertainties. Including years during which radiosonde observations of the stratosphere were of sufficiently high quality substantially extends this record, reducing this sampling uncertainty by up to 20&thinsp;%. Moreover, many open questions in this field involve aspects of tropospheric dynamics likely to be better constrained by “conventional” (i.e. radiosonde and surface-based) observations.</p> <p>Based on an intercomparison of reanalyses, a quantitative case is made that for many purposes the improved sampling obtained by including this period outweighs the reduced precision of the reanalyses in the Northern Hemisphere. Studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling should therefore consider the use of this period when using reanalysis data. These results also support continued attention on this period from centres producing reanalyses.</p>https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/2749/2019/acp-19-2749-2019.pdf
spellingShingle P. Hitchcock
P. Hitchcock
On the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title On the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling
title_full On the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling
title_fullStr On the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling
title_full_unstemmed On the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling
title_short On the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere–troposphere coupling
title_sort on the value of reanalyses prior to 1979 for dynamical studies of stratosphere troposphere coupling
url https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/2749/2019/acp-19-2749-2019.pdf
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