Status: this preprint was under review for the journal ACP. A revision for further review has not been submitted.
Isentropic advection and convective lifting of water vapor in the UT – LS as observed over Brazil (22° S) in February 2004 by in situ high-resolution measurements of H2O, CH4, O3 and temperature
G. Durry,N. Huret,A. Hauchecorne,V. Marecal,J.-P. Pommereau,R. L. Jones,G. Held,N. Larsen,and J.-B. Renard
Abstract. The micro-SDLA balloonborne diode laser spectrometer was flown twice from Bauru (22° S, Brazil) in February 2004 during HIBISCUS to yield in situ H2O measurements in the Upper Troposphere (UT) and Lower Stratosphere (LS) and in particular in the Tropical Tropopause Layer (TTL). The overall TTL was found warmer (with a subsaturated cold point near –79°C) and the LS moister compared to former measurements obtained in tropical oceanic conditions. The use of specific balloons with a slow descent, combined with the high-resolution of the laser sensor, allowed us to observe in situ in the UT, the TTL and the LS several thin layers correlated on H2O, CH4, O3, temperature and PV. A component of these layers is associated with the isentropic transport into the UT- LS of extratropical stratospheric air masses. Moreover, the examination of temperature and tracer (CH4, O3) profiles gives insights on the potential contribution of convective transport of H2O in the TTL.
Received: 09 Nov 2006 – Discussion started: 04 Dec 2006
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Service d'Aéronomie, CNRS and Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Route des Gatines, Verrière le Buisson cedex, 91371, France
Groupe de Spectroscopie Moléculaire et Atmosphérique, CNRS and Université de Reims, Moulin de la Housse, B.P. 1039, 51687 Reims Cedex, France
N. Huret
Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement, CNRS and Université d'Orléans, 3A Avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, 45071 Orléans cedex 2, France
A. Hauchecorne
Service d'Aéronomie, CNRS and Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Route des Gatines, Verrière le Buisson cedex, 91371, France
V. Marecal
Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement, CNRS and Université d'Orléans, 3A Avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, 45071 Orléans cedex 2, France
J.-P. Pommereau
Service d'Aéronomie, CNRS and Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Route des Gatines, Verrière le Buisson cedex, 91371, France
R. L. Jones
Center for Atmospheric Science, University Chemical Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
G. Held
N. Larsen
J.-B. Renard
Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement, CNRS and Université d'Orléans, 3A Avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, 45071 Orléans cedex 2, France