Abstract
Abstract. Temperature inversions are one of the dominant features of the Arctic atmosphere and play a crucial role in various processes by controlling the transfer of mass and moisture fluxes through the lower troposphere. It is therefore essential that they are accurately quantified, monitored and simulated as realistically as possible over the Arctic regions. In the present study, the characteristics of inversions in terms of frequency and strength are quantified for the entire Arctic Ocean for summer and winter seasons of 2003 to 2008 using the AIRS data for the clear-sky conditions. The probability density functions (PDFs) of the inversion strength are also presented for every summer and winter month. Our analysis shows that although the inversion frequency along the coastal regions of Arctic decreases from June to August, inversions are still seen in almost each profile retrieved over the inner Arctic region. In winter, inversions are ubiquitous and are also present in every profile analysed over the inner Arctic region. When averaged over the entire study area (70° N–90° N), the inversion frequency in summer ranges from 69 to 86% for the ascending passes and 72–86% for the descending passes. For winter, the frequency values are 88–91% for the ascending passes and 89–92% for the descending passes of AIRS/AQUA. The PDFs of inversion strength for the summer months are narrow and right-skewed (or positively skewed), while in winter, they are much broader. In summer months, the mean values of inversion strength for the entire study area range from 2.5 to 3.9 K, while in winter, they range from 7.8 to 8.9 K. The standard deviation of the inversion strength is double in winter compared to summer. The inversions in the summer months of 2007 were very strong compared to other years. The warming in the troposphere of about 1.5–3.0 K vertically extending up to 400 hPa was observed in the summer months of 2007.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundThe Arctic region is warming at twice the rate of rest of the world (ACIA, 2004)
Our analysis shows that the inversion frequency along the coastal regions of Arctic decreases from June to August, inversions are still seen in almost each profile retrieved over the inner Arctic region
Probability density functions (PDFs) for the maximum inversion strength are quantified for the individual months and years for the summer and winter seasons
Summary
The Arctic region is warming at twice the rate of rest of the world (ACIA, 2004). Both observational and modelling studies indicate high susceptibility of this region to undergo changes as the anthropogenic emissions increase. Devasthale et al.: The temperature inversion statistics over the Arctic several studies have been carried out in this context (Bradley et al, 1992; Serreze et al, 1992; Kahl et al, 1996; Liu and Key, 2003; Liu et al, 2006; Mernild and Liston, 2009; Sedlar and Tjernstrom, 2009; Tjernstrom and Graversen, 2009) Most of these studies use measurements from radiosondes and they provide information at very high vertical resolution, they do not cover the entire Arctic Ocean, and as a result, information on the spatial variability of inversions is largely lacking. The work by Liu et al (2006) presents useful information on the inversion strength in the Arctic using long-term satellite sensor data, but it is limited to only winter months. They do not provide information on the inversion frequency. Starting from the surface skin temperature, we recursively search for the warmer temperature at lower pressure level above (up to 400 hPa), and if such condition occurs, we consider inversion to be present in the retrieved profile
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