Tropical convective transport and the Walker circulation

Hosking, J.S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3646-3504; Russo, M. R.; Braesicke, P.; Pyle, J. A.. 2012 Tropical convective transport and the Walker circulation. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 12 (20). 9791-9797. 10.5194/acp-12-9791-2012

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Abstract/Summary

We introduce a methodology to visualise rapid vertical and zonal tropical transport pathways. Using prescribed sea-surface temperatures in four monthly model integrations for 2005, we characterise preferred transport routes from the troposphere to the stratosphere in a high resolution climate model. Most efficient transport is modelled over the Maritime Continent (MC) in November and February, i.e., boreal winter. In these months, the ascending branch of the Walker Circulation over the MC is formed in conjunction with strong deep convection, allowing fast transport into the stratosphere. In the model the upper tropospheric zonal winds associated with the Walker Circulation are also greatest in these months in agreement with ERA-Interim reanalysis data. We conclude that the Walker circulation plays an important role in the seasonality of fast tropical transport from the lower and middle troposphere to the upper troposphere and so impacts at the same time the potential supply of surface emissions to the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) and subsequently to the stratosphere.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.5194/acp-12-9791-2012
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Climate
ISSN:	1680-7324
Additional Keywords:	tropospheric transport; Walker circulation; troposphere; stratosphere; convective transport
Date made live:	25 Jul 2013 17:26 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/502757

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.5194/acp-12-9791-2012

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Climate

ISSN:

1680-7324

Additional Keywords:

tropospheric transport; Walker circulation; troposphere; stratosphere; convective transport

Date made live:

25 Jul 2013 17:26 +0 (UTC)