HCl quasi-biennial oscillation in the stratosphere and a comparison with ozone QBO

Abstract

HALOE data from 1992 to 2003 are used to analyze the interannual variation of the HCl volume mixing ratio and its quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in the stratosphere, and the results are compared with the ozone QBO. Then, the NCAR two-dimensional interactive chemical, dynamical and radiative model is used to study the effects of the wind QBO on the distribution and variation of HCl in the stratosphere. The results show that the QBO signals in the HCl mixing ratio are mainly at altitudes from 50 hPa to 5 hPa; the larger amplitudes are located between 30 hPa and 10 hPa; a higher HCl mixing ratio usually corresponds to the westerly phase of the wind QBO and a lower HCl mixing ratio usually corresponds to the easterly phase of the wind QBO in a level near 20 hPa and below. In the layer near 10 hPa–5 hPa, the phase of the HCl QBO reverses earlier than the phase of the wind QBO; the QBO signals for HCl in the extratropics are also clear, but with reversed phase compared with those over the Tropics. The HCl QBO signals at 30°N are clearer than those at 30°S; the QBOs for HCl and ozone have a similar phase at the 50 hPa-20 hPa level while they are out of phase near 10 hPa; the simulated structures of the HCl QBO agree well with observations. The mechanism for the formation of the HCl QBO and the reason for differences in the vertical structure of the HCl and ozone QBO are attributed to the transport of HCl and ozone by the wind QBO-induced meridional circulation.