Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2017-308
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2017-308
05 May 2017
 | 05 May 2017
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal ACP. A revision for further review has not been submitted.

Analyzing trace gas filaments in the Ex-UTLS by 4D-variational assimilation of airborne tomographic retrievals

Annika Vogel, Jörn Ungermann, and Hendrik Elbern

Abstract. This case study explores the potential for chemical state analysis at extratropical upper tropospheric – lower stratospheric (Ex-UTLS) height levels with airborne limb-images, assimilated into an advanced spatio-temporal system. The investigation is motivated by the limited capability of both, nadir- and limb-viewing satellite sensors to resolve highly filamented structures, delineated by sharp trace gas gradients on small horizontal and vertical scales. The EURAD-IM (EURopean Air pollution Dispersion – Inverse Model) is applied as assimilation system and designed to extend the flight path confined retrievals from GLORIA (Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere) to both, larger areas and detailed vertical structures by a tomographic flight pattern. Related potential and limitations of the method are studied with the following features applied: (i) airborne limb-imaging observations of the Ex-UTLS, (ii) spatio-temporal extension by 4-dimensional variational data assimilation, (iii) correlation between ozone and potential vorticity (PV) as an indicator of airmasses and (iv) anisotropic and inhomogeneous horizontal background error correlations in the Ex-UTLS, spreading information towards unobserved regions along PV isopleths. This setup demonstrated substantial improvements to basic approaches in exploring new data on the spatial extend and alignment of airmasses down to small-scale filaments in the Ex-UTLS. Tomographic observations provide detailed insight for reconstructing filamentary foldings along airmass boundaries above the tropopause during this case study.

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Annika Vogel, Jörn Ungermann, and Hendrik Elbern
 
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Annika Vogel, Jörn Ungermann, and Hendrik Elbern
Annika Vogel, Jörn Ungermann, and Hendrik Elbern

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Short summary
The potential for chemical state analysis at tropopause heights was investigated by combining airborne tomographic observations with a chemical data-assimilation system in form of a case study. Related developments include the use of potential vorticity for ozone initialization and flow-dependent horizontal correlations. This setup demonstrated substantial improvements in terms of spatial extend and alignment of atmospheric structures down to filamentary foldings along airmass boundaries.
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