Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
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10.5194/acpd-7-10371-2007
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/10371/2007/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/10371/2007/acpd-7-10371-2007.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/10371/2007/acpd-7-10371-2007.pdf
10371
10403
2007-07-19
Small-scale mixing processes enhancing troposphere-to-stratosphere transport by pyro-cumulonimbus storms
G. Luderer
gunnar@mpch-mainz.mpg.de
J. Trentmann
K. Hungershöfer
M. Herzog
M. Fromm
M. O. Andreae
Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Dept. Biogeochemistry, Mainz, Germany
Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Institute for Meteorology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. Current affiliation: LISA, CNRS/Univ. Paris 7&12, Créteil, France
NOAA GFDL, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, USA
Deep convection induced by large forest fires is an efficient
mechanism for transport of aerosol particles and trace gases into the upper
troposphere and lower stratosphere (UT/LS). For many pyro-cumulonimbus clouds
(pyroCbs) as well as other cases of severe convection without
fire forcing, radiometric observations of cloud tops in the thermal infrared (IR) reveal
characteristic structures, featuring a region of relatively high brightness
temperatures (warm center) surrounded by a U-shaped
region of low brightness temperatures.
<br><br>
We performed a numerical simulation of a specific case study of
pyroCb using a
non-hydrostatic cloud resolving model with a two-moment cloud
microphysics parameterization and a prognostic turbulence scheme. The model is
able to reproduce the thermal IR
structure as observed from satellite radiometry. Our findings establish a
close link between the observed temperature
pattern and small-scale mixing processes atop and downwind
of the overshooting dome of the pyroCb. Such small-scale mixing processes are
strongly enhanced by the formation and breaking of a stationary gravity wave
induced by the overshoot. They are found to enhance the stratospheric
penetration of the smoke by up to 30 K and thus are of major significance for
irreversible transport of forest fire smoke into the lower stratosphere.
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