Study of Convective Transport of Pollutants into the Upper Troposphere Using Data From the CONTRAST Experiment and the CloudSat Satellite Mission

This study explores the influences of tropical deep convection on distribution of trace gases in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UT/LS) using a comparison of two data sources: the NSF-sponsored `Convective Transport of Active Species in the Tropics (CONTRAST) Experiment' over the Guam area during the winter of 2014 and the CloudSat Satellite Mission. Analysis of trace gas measurements made in situ, in conjunction with CloudSat cloud-profiling radar profiles, allowed us to explore the relationship between two characterizations of deep convective outflow: one from cirrus anvils and the other from chemical species. It was found that convective outflow estimated from cirrus anvils is roughly 1-2 kilometer (km) lower than that derived from chemical injection into the upper troposphere. Further research is being conducted to explore the relationship between the ratio of UT chemical concentration to that of the boundary layer, and how this, when related to tracer lifetimes, differs in convective regions versus non-convective regions. Implications of these findings are discussed.