Subsidence of high atmospheric air above the Arctic derived from CO time series measured by ground-based microwave radiometers.

• Applicant: Dr. Mathias Palm
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2008 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 65226577

In this project a data-set of ground-based measurements of stratomesospheric CO above the Arctic will be used to study the dynamics of the Arctic winter atmosphere between 40 and 100 km altitude. With the help of two established models, WACCM and B3DCTM, the downtransport of thermospheric and mesospheric air will be investigated. The duration and strength of this descend in the Arctic winter determines the load of radicals in the spring stratosphere and influences the O3 destruction via the NOX catalytic cycle. This project sets a starting point to monitor the development of the meridional circulation and will eventually help answering the question if this circulation is influenced by climate change.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Justus Notholt