In situ detection of stratosphere‐troposphere exchange of cirrus particles in the midlatitudes. Issue 3 (13th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Müller, S.; Hoor, P.; Berkes, F.; Bozem, H.; Klingebiel, M.; Reutter, P.; Smit, H. G. J.; Wendisch, M.; Spichtinger, P.; Borrmann, S.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 42:Issue 3(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 949
• Page End: 955
• Publication Date: 2015-02-13
• Subjects: stratosphere‐troposphere exchange -- small‐scale mixing -- cirrus particles in the lowermost stratosphere; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2014GL062556
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Airborne trace gas, microphysical, and radiation measurements were performed during the AIRcraft TOwed Sensor Shuttle ‐ Inhomogeneous Cirrus Experiment over northern Germany in 2013. Based on high‐precision nitrous oxide (N2 O) and carbon monoxide (CO) in situ data, stratospheric air could be identified, which contained cirrus cloud particles. Consistent with the stratospheric N2 O data, backward trajectories indicate that the sampled air masses crossed the dynamical tropopause in the last 3 h before the measurement. These air masses contained cirrus particles, which were formed during slow ascent in the troposphere and subsequently mixed with stratospheric air. From the CO‐N2 O correlation the irreversibility of this transport is deduced. To our knowledge, this is the first in situ detection of cirrus particles mixed with stratospheric air in the midlatitudes. Key Points: In situ detection of cirrus in the extratropical stratosphere Focus on irreversible transport and small‐scale mixing at the tropopause Cirrus particles affect the water vapor budget of the lowermost stratosphere