Transient thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons at float conditions

The prediction of the thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons under varying environmental conditions is one of the key issues in the design and flight test of balloons. In this paper, a three-dimensional transient thermal model is developed to predict the thermal behavior of spherical stratospheric balloons. The diurnal variations of the skin and lifting gas temperatures at float conditions are discussed in detail. The further studies on the thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons are presented also.     

Aerosol observations for climate studies

The SAM II and SAGE satellite systems have provided to date more than 5 years and almost 3 years, respectively, of data on atmospheric aerosol profiles on a near-global scale. Studies with these unique data sets are developing a global aerosol climatology for the first time and have shown the existence and quantification of polar stratospheric clouds (PSC's) and tropical stratospheric cirrus. In addition, a tropospheric cirrus climatology is evolving. Since these two experiments were launched, a series of large volcanic eruptions have occurred which have greatly impacted the stratospheric aerosol loading. The aerosol layer produced by the eruption of El Chichon, for example, increased the 30 mb temperatures in the northern tropics by as much as 4°C for 6 months after the eruption. This paper will describe in detail, from a climate perspective, the evolving aerosol and cloud climatologies as a function of space and time, and show the stratospheric dynamics of volcanic injections and their enhancements on stratospheric optical depth and mass loading.     

On the quasi-biennial oscillation in equatorial stratospheric temperatures and total ozone

The results of a cross-spectral analysis between monthly mean temperatures at 100 mb, 50 mb and 30 mb over the equator and the corresponding monthly mean BUV total ozone at different latitude zones are presented for the period 1970–1977. Significant squared coherences between total ozone and 50 mb equatorial temperatures at 26 months are only found between 5 degrees on each side of the equator, between 45 deg N and 55 deg N and at 45 deg S. At latitudes were the QBO in stratospheric temperature diminishes so does the QBO in total ozone (i.e. close to 35 deg N and 15 deg S). Over subtropical latitudes there is a tendency towards a more biennial oscillation in total ozone (not correlated with the equatorial QBO in stratospheric temperatures) and at 65 deg N and 65 deg S total ozone oscillates at periods greater than the equatorial QBO.     

A new non-LTE retrieval method for atmospheric parameters from mipas-envisat emission spectra

The Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) is a high-resolution limb sounder on board the European polar platform ENVISAT, scheduled to be launched in 2001. A large number of atmospheric trace gases relevant to stratospheric ozone chemistry and global change are expected to be retrieved from the IR spectra covering a wide spectral range. While operational data analysis under responsibility of the European Space Agency is limited to conditions of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), the analysis of limb radiances affected by non-LTE is left to scientific institutions. In this paper we present an innovative non-LTE retrieval method as part of the MIPAS semi-operational data processor developed at the Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung (IMK). The new approach enables the treatment of vibrational, rotational, and spin non-LTE as well as a dependence of the non-LTE state distribution on the retrieval target quantities. In a case study, the method has been tested for its application to the non-LTE analysis of 5.3 μm MIPAS radiances. The fundamental ro-vibrational band of nitric oxide emitting at 5.3 μm shows strong non-LTE effects arising from vibrational excitation of stratospheric NO and superposed thermospheric non-LTE emissions. A conventional non-LTE retrieval approach using ab initio vibrational temperatures of NO cannot be applied due to rotational and spin non-LTE in the thermosphere, and the dependence of stratospheric vibrational temperatures on the NO abundance itself. The ability of the developed non-LTE inversion tool to retrieve stratospheric NO abundances is demonstrated by retrieval simulations. The further application of this method to the simultaneous retrieval of NO and kinetic temperature in the thermosphere and the retrieval of important non-LTE process parameters has also been tested.     

Detection of long-term trends in global stratospheric temperature from NMC analyses derived from NOAA satellite data

Since 24 September 1978 global daily fields of temperature and geopotential height at 8 stratospheric pressure levels 70 to 0.4 mb (18–55 km) have been produced at the U.S. National Meteorological Center. Temperature profiles derived from NOAA operational satellites constitute the sole data source for the upper stratospheric levels 5, 2, 1, and 0.4 mb (35, 42, 48 and 55 km). Significant changes in upper stratosphere reported temperatures have accompanied each of the eight changes in either operational satellite or method of data processing. Comparisons with rocketsonde data from 1978 to 1986 show bias changes of 1 to 5 Celsius degrees at various levels. For detecting long term trends of ambient stratospheric temperature, adjustments based on rocket comparisons must be applied to the NMC fields. Lack of data at north polar latitudes and in the southern hemisphere limits comprehensive characterization of temperature uncertainty. We discuss in detail our ability to characterize temperature uncertainty of the NMC stratospheric analyses. We specifically discuss our ability to detect a trend in the middle stratosphere temperature of about 1.5 celsius degrees per decade, the amount of change indicated likely by current theoretical models.     

Early results based on the stratospheric channels of TOVS on the TIROS-N series of operational satellites

TOVS (TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder) comprises the three radiometers HIRS-2 (High resolution Infra Red Sounder Mod 2), MSU (Microwave Sounding Unit) and SSU (Stratospheric Sounding Unit) mounted on the TIROS-N series of operational spacecraft. Data from these sounders have been available since October 1978 and the series should continue to beyond 1985. The derivation and assessment of stratospheric geopotential height fields from these sounders, with particular reference to the SSU, are described. Measurements of stratospheric diurnal temperature effects and plots of zonally meaned brightness temperatures over a 450 day period are also presented.     

利用WACCM-3模式对平流层动力、热力场及微量化学成分季节变化的数值模拟研究

利用美国NCAR最新的化学-气候耦合模式WACCM-3对平流层风场、温度场以及平流层臭氧等多种微量气体成分(O3, CH4, N2O, H2O, HCl, HNO3)的季节变化进行了数值模拟, 并使用ECMWF再分析资料与美国UARS卫星 搭载的HALOE, MLS, CLAES等探测器的观测资料, 对模式输出的动力、热力及化学成分浓度的气候平均值进行了验证. 结果表明, 在气候平均海表温度值驱动下, WACCM-3模式能够很好地再现ECMWF资料中平流层纬向平均风场与温度场的季节变化. 模拟结果中平流层化学成分的经向-垂直分布及其季节变化与卫星观测结果基本一致. 模式的动力、热力场在极地平流层以及热带对流层顶等区域存在一定的偏差. 这些偏差对于微量气体成分分布 的模拟具有一定影响, 特别是南半球冬(7月)、春(10月)季节南极平流层低层极夜 急流偏强, 造成极地地区附近的输送障碍增强, 从而导致CH4, N2O, H2O浓度比观测偏低. 此外, WACCM-3缺少热带平流层风场的准两年振荡(QBO) 机制, 这对于热带平流层东风急流以及低纬度平流层O3, CH4, N2O, H2O等成分经向输送的模拟结果也有一定影响.      

Variations of mesopause temperatures in Europe

Mesopause temperatures were derived from ground measurements of the near infrared OH1 spectrum. Preliminary data are presented. Seasonal variations at Wuppertal (51° N, 7° E) are well represented if the Cole and Kantor (1978) model [1] is raised by 10 K and shifted by about 18 days. Latitudinal variations from 68° N to 51° N are found much smaller than the model variations. During a stratospheric warming, mesopause and stratosphere temperatures were found to be in anticorrelation only if a substantial longitudinal shift is introduced.     

Spring-ozone change in Antarctica and the role of the polar vortex

Observations since the late 1970's have shown that from late September until the end of November (austral spring) the total ozone over the southern polar region has declined by up to 30% when compared with the ozone average of the 1957–1978 period. The decline is not uniform in time and space; from January through August, the ozone changes are very small, well within the year-to-year fluctuation limits. Satellite observations confirm that the significant ozone decline is centered over and does not expand outside of the Antarctic continent, e.g. it coincides with the location of the Antarctic stratospheric winter vortex; moreover, the decline increases poleward. Analysis of the stratospheric temperatures and geopotential heights confirms that the spring-to-spring ozone changes closely follow the changes of the thermobaric field, and that the rapid increase of ozone (and stratospheric temperature) in the spring is dependent on the time of the polar vortex breakdown, when favorable conditions for continuous meridional exchange of ozone-rich air from the middle latitudes are re-established. The stratospheric heating rates and the weak gradient in the vortex central region during early spring provide favorable conditions for weak upward motions, responsible for a substantial part of the ozone loss between the date of the solar penetration of the stratosphere, and the date of the vortex breakdown. Since the late 1970's, the breakdown of the Antarctic vortex has occured about mid-November, a month later than in years of early breakdown. It is suggested that an early breakdwon of the Antarctic vortex would interrupt the trend of declining spring ozone established over the past few years.     

A survey over the PMP-1 winters 1978/79–1981/82 in comparison with earlier winters

The main features of the “PMP-1 Winters” are summarized and compared with information available on earlier winters, dating back partly till the winter 1951/52. The emphasis is put on a comparison of the stratospheric temperatures over the polar region and of the development of the planetary-scale waves 1 and 2. A possible modulation of these waves by the QBO (Quasi-Biennial Oscillation) and by the sunspot cycle is discussed briefly.     

平流层飞艇总体设计的基础问题

平流层飞艇是一种新型的长航时临近空间飞行器，具有驻空高度高、驻空时间长、承载能力大、使用效费比高等特点，在对地观测及通信中继等领域具有广泛应用前景。但是该飞行器系统十分复杂，技术与设计实现难度大，总体设计需要考虑的基础问题及解决方案尚不完全明晰。根据平流层大气风场、温度和压力的基础特征，考虑平流层环境对平流层飞艇总体设计的影响，根据空气动力学与热力学基本理论，分析平流层飞艇的显著特征及与常规低空飞艇的区别，研究这些基础问题对平流层飞艇总体设计的影响，为平流层飞艇技术发展提供建议和参考。      

Aerosol measurements from earth orbiting spacecraft

Since the fall of 1978, two Earth-orbiting spacecraft sensors, SAM II, for Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement II, and SAGE, for Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment have been monitoring the global stratospheric aerosol. These experiments use the Sun as a source to make Earth-limb extinction measurements during each spacecraft sunrise and sunset. This paper describes the global aerosol data base (climatology) that is evolving. Seasonal and hemispheric variations such as the springtime layer expansion with warming temperatures and the local wintertime polar stratospheric clouds (PSC's) will be described. The PSC's enhance extinction by up to two orders of magnitude and optical depths by as much as an order of magnitude over the background 1000 nm values of about 1.2 × 10^?4 km^?1 and 1.3 × 10^?3, respectively. The detection and tracking of a number of volcanoes whose effluents penetrated the tropopause are also described. The mass of new aerosol injected into the stratosphere from each volcano is estimated. The May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, for example, produced about 0.32 × 10⁹ kg of new stratospheric aerosol enhancing the Northern Hemispheric aerosol by more than 100 percent.     

Effect of vapor condensation on ascending performance of stratospheric airship

This paper reports a numerical investigation on the effects of water vapor condensing inside the air bag of a stratospheric airship on its ascending performance. The kinetic and thermal model considering vapor condensation was established, based on which a computer program was written in Fortran. The simulation results show that the vapor condensation remarkably affects the kinetic and thermal characteristics of the stratospheric airship in the ascent process. During the ascent process below 11 km, a large amount of latent heat is released when the water vapor in the air inside the air bag of the stratospheric airship condenses, which results in the increase of the temperature and the reduction of the weight of the air in the air bag, causing the airship to speed up, the accelerated expansion of the helium, and the decrease of the helium temperature in the helium bag. When the flight altitude is higher than 11 km, the effect of vapor condensation on the kinetic and thermal characteristics of the stratospheric airship is negligible because vapor is virtually nonexistent in the air.     

Climatic influence of background and volcanic stratosphere aerosol models

A simple modelization of the earth atmosphere system including tropospheric and stratospheric aerosols has been derived and tested. Analytical expressions are obtained for the albedo variation due to a thin stratospheric aerosol layer. Also outlined are the physical procedures and the respective influence of the main parameters: aerosol optical thickness, single scattering albedo and asymmetry factor, and sublayer albedo. The method is applied to compute the variation of the zonal and planetary albedos due to a stratospheric layer of background H₂SO₄ particles and of volcanic ash.     

用全球原始方程半谱模式研究QBO对行星波传播的影响

本文建立了一个全球原始方程半谱模式,模拟了赤道上空风场准两年振荡(QBO)及其相应的副热带急流大小对冬季半球行星波向上传播及平流层突然增温的影响。结果表明,波数1的行星波在QBO东风相比西风相更易向上传播,平流层增温更快更强。波数2则相反。QBO对低纬对流层里的行星波上传的影响限制在低纬低平流层,对中高纬影响不大。     

平流层飞艇太阳能源系统研究

以平流层太阳能飞艇平台为背景,对平流层太阳能飞艇能源系统展开了分析和研究。文中建立了飞艇表面太阳能电池接收太阳直接辐射、散射辐射、反射辐射的模型。利用该模型对某飞艇太阳能电池进行计算,结果显示飞艇接收的太阳辐射能量与飞艇的工作纬度、季节、太阳能电池阵列表面面积、飞行姿态密切相关。当飞艇的脊背从日出到日落时刻正对太阳光线时,太阳能电池接收到的太阳辐射能量将是最大的。     

一种基于地转风模型的平流层风场插值方法

平流层风场水平分量的数据精度和密度对高空气球实验的轨迹预测精度和飞行控制精度有着直接的影响。面向平流层风场，提出一种基于地转风模型的插值方法。该方法通过改进科里奥利频率公式，并用二维卷积计算地转风模型，提升了地转风模型的计算效率和低纬度地区风场精度，再用迭代二元线性回归和改进的自适应观测场偏差权重矩阵减小了观测误差对插值结果的影响。实验结果表明:所提插值方法能有效提升平流层风场插值计算速度，并对平流层风场水平分量的插值精度有显著提升。      

A general calculation method to specify center-of-buoyancy for the stratospheric airship with multiple gas cells

As the lighter-than-air (LTA) flight vehicle, the stratospheric airship is a desirable platform to provide communication and surveillance services. During the ascent from sea-level to the mission altitude, the volume of the lifting gas may change significantly, which will result in the change of the center-of-buoyancy (CB). A general calculation method is developed to specify CB for the stratospheric airship with a double-ellipsoid hull and an arbitrary number of the gas cells. The cross-section-integral (CSI) method is used as a basic calculation scenario to specify CB. Considering the complexity in determining the boundary between the helium and air in the gas cell, a searching algorithm is put forward and the specification of CB can be conducted by the iterative calculation. As an important application, the stable condition of the pitch angle is analyzed when the change of CB is involved. Under different initial configurations, the stable pitch angle of the stratospheric airship during the ascent is specified and compared, which shows the advantages of the multi-gas-cell configuration. The results of this paper may provide an important reference for the engineering application of the stratospheric airship.     

平流层飞艇热力学验证温度测量方法研究

平流层飞艇的热力学分析是平流层飞艇关键技术之一。针对热力学分析的工程验证及模型完善,提出了适合于平流层飞艇的艇囊内气体及囊体表面的温度测量方法,包括采集点的分布,传感器的选型,数据传输和处理及数据准确性评价等。经过两次平流层飞艇的缩比飞行试验,对比同艇发放的探空仪采集的温度数据,验证了该方法测量到的数据的准确性。     

Temperature and pressure variability in mid-latitude low atmosphere and stratosphere-ionosphere coupling

This study presents the continuation of our previous analysis of variations of atmospheric and space weather parameters above Iberian Peninsula along two years near the 24th solar cycle maximum. In the previous paper (Morozova et al., 2017) we mainly discussed the first mode of principal component analysis of tropospheric and lower stratospheric temperature and pressure fields, which was shown to be correlated with lower stratospheric ozone and anti-correlated with cosmic ray flux. Now we extend the investigation to the second mode, which suggests a coupling between the stratosphere and the ionosphere.This second mode, located in the low and middle stratosphere (and explaining ~7% of temperature and ~3% of geopotential height variations), showed to be statistically significantly correlated with variations of the middle stratosphere ozone content and anti-correlated with variations of ionospheric total electron content. Similar co-variability of these stratospheric and ionospheric parameters was also obtained with the wavelet cross-coherence analysis.To investigate the role of atmospheric circulation dynamics and the causal nature of the found correlations, we applied the convergent cross mapping (CCM) analysis to our series. Strong evidence for the stratosphere-ionosphere coupling were obtained for the winter 2012–2013 that is characterized by the easterly QBO phase (quasi-biennial oscillations of the direction of the stratospheric zonal winds) and a strong SSW (sudden stratospheric warming event). Further analysis (for the three-year time interval 2012–2015) hint that SSWs events play main role in emphasizing the stratosphere-ionosphere coupling.