Accessibility navigation


The structure and evolution of the stratospheric vortex in response to natural forcings

Mitchell, D. M., Gray, L. and Charlton-Perez, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8179-6220 (2011) The structure and evolution of the stratospheric vortex in response to natural forcings. Journal of Geophysical Research, 116. D15110. ISSN 2156-2202

Full text not archived in this repository.

It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.

To link to this item DOI: 10.1029/2011JD015788

Abstract/Summary

The structure and evolution of the Arctic stratospheric polar vortex is assessed during opposing phases of, primarily, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), but the 11 year solar cycle and winters following large volcanic eruptions are also examined. The analysis is performed by taking 2-D moments of vortex potential vorticity (PV) fields which allow the area and centroid of the vortex to be calculated throughout the ERA-40 reanalysis data set (1958–2002). Composites of these diagnostics for the different phases of the natural forcings are then considered. Statistically significant results are found regarding the structure and evolution of the vortex during, in particular, the ENSO and QBO phases. When compared with the more traditional zonal mean zonal wind diagnostic at 60°N, the moment-based diagnostics are far more robust and contain more information regarding the state of the vortex. The study details, for the first time, a comprehensive sequence of events which map the evolution of the vortex during each of the forcings throughout an extended winter period.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > NCAS
ID Code:22769
Uncontrolled Keywords:ENSO, QBO, natural forcings, polar vortex, solar cycle, stratosphere
Publisher:American Geophysical Union

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Page navigation