Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1082
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1082
12 Dec 2016
 | 12 Dec 2016
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal ACP but the revision was not accepted.

Widespread persistent polar stratospheric ice clouds in the Arctic

Christiane Voigt, Andreas Dörnbrack, Martin Wirth, Silke M. Groß, Robert Baumann, Benedikt Ehard, Michael C. Pitts, Lamont R. Poole, Björn-Martin Sinnhuber, and Hermann Oelhaf

Abstract. Despite a general decline in ozone depleting substances in the stratosphere due to the multi-national commitment to substantially reduce the emissions of their precursors, the magnitude of Arctic polar ozone loss has not decreased in recent years. Thus new observations at cold conditions can help to enhance our knowledge of polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) formation and life cycle which is of relevance for Arctic ozone loss. In the unique winter 2015/16, cold and persistent areas with temperatures below the ice frost point Tice developed in the Arctic stratosphere, caused by reduced perturbations of the polar vortex through planetary waves. Due to these extreme conditions, unprecedented and widespread ice PSCs formed and persisted for more than a month in the Arctic. These ice PSCs were repeatedly detected by lidars on the CALIPSO satellite and on the high altitude long range research aircraft HALO. A new lower threshold of the backscatter ratio−1 of 0.3 for ice PSCs derived from high-resolution lidar measurements at 532 nm wavelength leads to enhanced ice PSC coverage compared to previous analysis. The ice PSCs were generally surrounded by nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) and supercooled ternary solution (STS) clouds. By combining optical PSC data and trajectory analysis, we investigate ice formation pathways. In addition to ice nucleation in STSm with meteoric dust, we find that ice nucleation on pre-existing NAT may play an important role in polar winter. Persistent synoptic-scale Arctic ice PSCs have not been observed so far. Hence, ice PSCs are a sensitive marker for cold stratospheric winter temperatures modulated by natural variability and climate change.

Christiane Voigt, Andreas Dörnbrack, Martin Wirth, Silke M. Groß, Robert Baumann, Benedikt Ehard, Michael C. Pitts, Lamont R. Poole, Björn-Martin Sinnhuber, and Hermann Oelhaf
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Christiane Voigt, Andreas Dörnbrack, Martin Wirth, Silke M. Groß, Robert Baumann, Benedikt Ehard, Michael C. Pitts, Lamont R. Poole, Björn-Martin Sinnhuber, and Hermann Oelhaf
Christiane Voigt, Andreas Dörnbrack, Martin Wirth, Silke M. Groß, Robert Baumann, Benedikt Ehard, Michael C. Pitts, Lamont R. Poole, Björn-Martin Sinnhuber, and Hermann Oelhaf

Viewed

Total article views: 2,475 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
1,479 904 92 2,475 72 88
  • HTML: 1,479
  • PDF: 904
  • XML: 92
  • Total: 2,475
  • BibTeX: 72
  • EndNote: 88
Views and downloads (calculated since 12 Dec 2016)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 12 Dec 2016)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 2,462 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 2,457 with geography defined and 5 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Cited

Latest update: 28 Mar 2024
Download
Short summary
The letter describes unprecedented observations of widespread and persistent polar stratospheric ice clouds (ice PSCs) in the exceptionally cold Arctic stratospheric winter 2015/16. The unique observations are of global relevance because trends in Arctic ozone loss and in polar temperatures are highly uncertain. The new observations at cold conditions serve to enhance our knowledge on ice PSC formation, Arctic ozone loss and polar stratrospheric temperatures in a changing climate.
Altmetrics