Abstract
Considerations concerning the distribution of artificial radioactive substances in the troposphere point to the occurrence of stratospheric-tropospheric exchange in the region of the discontinuity between the tropical and middle latitude tropopause. Computations of the horizontal flux of ozone in the lower stratosphere and examination of the distribution of the tracer tungsten 185 in the stratosphere suggest that the trace substances are transported northwards from the tropical stratosphere by the action of transient eddy processes in which northward moving parcels of air are sinking and southward moving parcels are rising. The amount of ozone transported varies seasonally and is a maximum in the late winter and spring. The total transport appears sufficient to account for the observed spring build-up of ozone in middle and high latitudes. The eddies invoked are shown to be consistent with the observed countergradient transport of heat in the lower stratosphere, the pattern of stratospheric isentropes and the covariance values found from meridional and vertical velocities. The combined results indicate a new view concerning the mechanics of stratospheric motions as contrasted with the classical ideas of mean meridional motions.
Published Version
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