Interactions between dynamics and chemistry by COMMA modeling
Abstract
Much of our current knowledge of the chemistry and circulation of the middle atmosphere derives from the spacecraft instruments since the the late 1970s (LIMS, SAGE II, ATMOS) and in particular the 1990s (HALOE, MLS, MAS, ILAS POAM III). In parallel , knowledge of the global circulation has continued to advance thanks to rapid developments in theoretical studies performed using numerical general circulation models (GCMs). This paper will focus on the upper atmosphere at polar latitudes because this region is of special importance for climate studies where trace gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor, ozone, etc. are key ingredients in determing the thermal structure of the summer high latitude mesopause region. Both processes, chemistry as well as dynamical induced transports, and their numerical description define the quality criterions of Middle Atmosphere GCMs. Due to comparisons of modeled and observed trace gas distributions (time scale season down to hours) we will discuss recent advance in numerical modeling of the MLT region.
- Publication:
-
35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004cosp...35.4315B