Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

The Tropopause in a 2D Circulation Model

A. Gabriel Institut für Atmosphärenphysik der Universität Rostock, Kuhlungsborn, Germany

Search for other papers by A. Gabriel in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
G. Schmitz Institut für Atmosphärenphysik der Universität Rostock, Kuhlungsborn, Germany

Search for other papers by G. Schmitz in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
R. Geprägs Institut für Atmosphärenphysik der Universität Rostock, Kuhlungsborn, Germany

Search for other papers by R. Geprägs in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Dec 1999
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1999)056<4059:TTIACM>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
4059–4068
Restricted access

We are aware of a technical issue preventing figures and tables from showing in some newly published articles in the full-text HTML view.
While we are resolving the problem, please use the online PDF version of these articles to view figures and tables.

Abstract

The influence of baroclinic waves on tropopause height was studied with a 2D version of the standard climate 3D GCM ECHAM3. The main feature of the 2D version is a self-consistent parameterization of the transient tropospheric eddy heat and momentum fluxes. The mixing processes that result from the stratospheric planetary waves are prescribed according to climatological data. The model calculations were made with and without the parameterized eddy fluxes, separately revealing the effect of midlatitude tropopause lifting due to the tropospheric eddies and the effect of midlatitude tropopause steepening due to the stratospheric circulation. These effects are also demonstrated by the temperature and the lapse rate of the model results and, additionally, by the meridional distribution of trace gas constituents when the 2D model is run as a dynamical–chemical transport model. The results reveal the strong dependence of the tropopause height on the strength of the stratospheric circulation.

Corresponding author address: A. Gabriel, Institut für Atmosphärenphysik der Universität Rostock, Schlossstr. 6, D-18225 Kühlungsborn, Germany.

Abstract

The influence of baroclinic waves on tropopause height was studied with a 2D version of the standard climate 3D GCM ECHAM3. The main feature of the 2D version is a self-consistent parameterization of the transient tropospheric eddy heat and momentum fluxes. The mixing processes that result from the stratospheric planetary waves are prescribed according to climatological data. The model calculations were made with and without the parameterized eddy fluxes, separately revealing the effect of midlatitude tropopause lifting due to the tropospheric eddies and the effect of midlatitude tropopause steepening due to the stratospheric circulation. These effects are also demonstrated by the temperature and the lapse rate of the model results and, additionally, by the meridional distribution of trace gas constituents when the 2D model is run as a dynamical–chemical transport model. The results reveal the strong dependence of the tropopause height on the strength of the stratospheric circulation.

Corresponding author address: A. Gabriel, Institut für Atmosphärenphysik der Universität Rostock, Schlossstr. 6, D-18225 Kühlungsborn, Germany.

Save
Cover Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

  • Andrews, D. G., J. R. Holton, and C. B. Leovy, 1987: Middle Atmospheric Dynamics. Academic, 489 pp.

  • Bengtsson, L., K. Arpe, E. Roeckner, and U. Schulzweida, 1996: Climate predictibility experiments with a general circulation model. Climate Dyn.,12, 261–278.

  • Branscome, L. E., 1983: A parameterization of transient eddy heat flux on a beta-plane. J. Atmos. Sci,40, 2508–2521.

  • Brasseur, G., M. H. Hitchman, S. Walters, M. Dymek, E. Falise, and M. Pirre, 1990: An interactive chemical dynamical radiative two-dimensional model of the middle atmosphere. J. Geophys. Res.,95, 5639–5655.

  • Dymnikov, V. P., V. A. Alexeev, E. M. Volodin, V. Ya. Galin, N. A. Diansky, V. N. Lykossow, and I. N. Esau, 1995: Numerical simulation of the coupled circulation of the atmosphere and the upper layer of the ocean. Izv. Acad. Nauk.,31, 324–346.

  • Edmon, H. J., Jr., B. J. Hoskins, and M. E. McIntyre, 1980: Eliassen-Palm cross sections for the troposphere. J. Atmos. Sci.,37, 2600–2616.

  • Egger, J., 1995: Tropopause height in baroclinic channel flow. J. Atmos. Sci.,52, 2232–2241.

  • Green, J. S. A., 1970: Transfer properties of the large-scale eddies and the general circulation of the atmosphere. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.,96, 157–185.

  • Gutowski, W. J., 1985: A simple model for the interaction between vertical eddy heat fluxes and static stability. J. Atmos. Sci.,42, 346–358.

  • Hauglustaine, D. A., C. Granier, G. P. Brasseur, and G. Megie, 1994:The importance of atmospheric chemistry in the calculation of radiative forcing on the climate system. J. Geophys. Res.,99, 1173–1186.

  • Held, I. H., 1982: On the height of the tropopause and the static stability of the troposphere. J. Atmos. Sci.,39, 412–417.

  • Hense, A., M. Kerschgens, and E. Raschke, 1982: An economical method for computing radiative transfer in circulation models. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.,108, 231–252.

  • Holton, J. R., 1986: Meridional distribution of stratospheric trace constituents. J. Atmos. Sci.,43, 1238–1242.

  • ——, P. H. Haynes, M. E. McIntyre, A. R. Douglas, R. B. Rood, and L. Pfister, 1995: Stratospheric–tropospheric exchange. Rev. Geophys.,33, 403–439.

  • Hoskins, B. J., 1991: Towards a PV-theta view of the general circulation, Tellus,43A, 27–35.

  • Laursen, L., and E. Eliasen, 1989: On the effects of damping mechanisms in an atmospheric general circulation model. Tellus,41A, 385–400.

  • Lindzen, R. S., 1993: Baroclinic neutrality and the tropopause. J. Atmos. Sci.,50, 1148–1151.

  • Louis, J. F., 1979: A parametric model of vertical eddy fluxes in the atmosphere. Bound.-Layer Meteor.,17, 1184–1207.

  • Randel, W. J., and R. R. Garcia, 1994: Application of a planetary wave breaking parameterization to stratospheric circulation statistics. J. Atmos. Sci.,51, 1157–1168.

  • Rockel, B., E. Raschke, and B. Weynes, 1991: A parameterization of broad band radiative transfer properties of water, ice and mixed clouds. Beitr. Phys. Atmos.,64, 1–12.

  • Roeckner, E., M. Rieland, and E. Keup, 1991: Modelling of cloud and radiation in the ECHAM model. Proc. ECMWF/WCRP Workshop on Clouds, Radiative Transfer and the Hydrological Cycle, Reading, United Kingdom, ECMWF, 199–222.

  • ——, and Coauthors, 1992: Simulation of the present-day climate with the ECHAM model: Impact of model physics and resolution. Rep. 93, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany, 171 pp. [Available from Max-Planck Institut für Meteorologie, Bundesstr. 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.].

  • Stone, P. H., and M.-S. Yao, 1987: Development of a two-dimensional zonally averaged statistical–dynamical model. Part II: The role of eddy momentum fluxes in the general circulation and their parameterization. J. Atmos. Sci.,44, 3769–3786.

  • ——, and ——, 1990: Development of a two-dimensional zonally averaged statistical–dynamical model. Part III: The parameterization of the eddy fluxes of heat and moisture. J. Climate,3, 726–740.

  • Sundquist, H., 1978: A parameterization scheme for non-convective condensation including prediction of cloud water content. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.,104, 677–690.

  • Thuburn, J., and G. C. Craig, 1997: GCM tests of theories for the height of the tropopause. J. Atmos. Sci.,54, 869–882.

  • Tie, X. X., C. Granier, W. Randel, and G. P. Brasseur, 1997: Effects of interannual variation of temperature on heterogeneous reactions and stratospheric ozone. J. Geophys. Res.,102, 23 519–23 527.

  • WMO, 1986: Atmospheric ozone 1985. Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project Rep. 16, WMO, Geneva, Switzerland, 1095 pp.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 393 230 90
PDF Downloads 51 19 0