MLS observations of stratospheric waves in temperature and O3 during the 1992 southern winter

Abstract

The Microwave Limb Sounder observed waves in stratospheric temperature and O3 during the 1992 southern winter. Wave 1 intensifies three times from mid August through mid September, when a 9 day eastward traveling wave becomes in phase with the stationary wave 1. During the periods of wave intensification, minor sudden warmings and increased zonal mean O3 are observed. The waves have a westward phase tilt which results in an intensified baroclinic zone when the waves are in phase. Waves in T and O3 are positively correlated near 5–10 hPa, implying transport by planetary waves; this is supported by larger O3 wave amplitudes than expected from photochemistry alone.