Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 4 6 2004 10.5194/acpd-4-8327-2004 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/8327/2004/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/8327/2004/acpd-4-8327-2004.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/8327/2004/acpd-4-8327-2004.pdf 8327 8355 2004-12-15 Analysis of water vapor LIDAR measurements during the MAP campaign: evidence of sub-structures of stratospheric intrusions P. D’Aulerio p.daulerio@isac.cnr.it F. Fierli F. Congeduti G. Redaelli Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, CNR, Roma, Italy Department of Physics, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy This paper presents case studies of dehydration in the free troposphere measured by a ground based Raman LIDAR in the Northern-Italy, during the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP). Two observations characterized by the presence of anomalously dry layers, below 6 km height, were analyzed using Lagrangian techniques. These events are related to upper-tropospheric, high Potential Vorticity streamers crossing the Alpine region and are interpreted as small-scale features of stratospheric intrusions associated to the PV ridge during its breakout phase. One of the measurements also shows the presence of two distinct dehydrated structures associated to the same event. The water vapor concentration also suggests dilution processes of dry stratospheric air in the troposphere. Lagrangian simulations allowed to successfully reproduce the observed water vapor distribution and the air parcel histories confirmed the stratospheric origin of the dry layers.