Jean-Luc Baray

Subtropical tropopause break as a possible stratospheric source of ozone in the tropical troposphere

Abstract The understanding of the transport of trace chemical species between the stratosphere and the troposphere is necessary for global change prediction. Until recently it was believed that stratospheric inputs, through jet streaks and tropopause folding, should occur only at extratropical latitudes. A case study of a tropopause fold was reported at Pointe-a-Pitre by Gouget et al . (1996). We presently corroborate this first case study by new observations in the Indian Ocean suggesting that stratosphere-troposphere exchanges, induced by the subtropical jet, are actually occurring near the edge of the tropics. Key to these exchanges is the crucial region of the junction between the lowermost stratosphere and the tropical and extratropical tropospheres, defined by Holton (1996) as the intersection zone of the 2 PVU potential vorticity surface with the 380 K potential temperature level. In this paper, the wind and ozone climatological context is given using vertical radiosounding data from Reunion Island (France, 21 °S, 55 °E) and Irene (South Africa, 25 °S, 28 °E). A case of subtropical tropopause fold occurring between Madagascar and Reunion Islands is presented using ECMWF and TOMS data. Observations are found to be fairly accordant with a dynamical jet analysis and suggest that stratospheric air intrusions are possible during winter in the sub-tropics edges.

Tropical cyclone Marlene and stratosphere‐troposphere exchange

Convective tropical cyclones initiate exchanges of mass and energy between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Recent analyses of ozone and water vapor measurements from Measurements of Ozone by Airbus In-Service Aircraft (MOZAIC) data [Suhre et al., 1997] suggest that stratospheric ozone inputs to the troposphere can occur in the tropics near zones of deep convection. In the present paper, we analyze a case study of spectacular stratosphere-troposphere exchange directly linked to the strong tropical cyclone Marlene, that occurred near Mauritius and Reunion Island on April 1995. The amplitude of the ozone peak (300 ppbv at 300 hPa) is comparable to those observed by Suhre et al. In this case, ageostrophic phenomena dominate advective phenomena. Therefore convective effects can be at the origin of mesoscale tropospheric ozone contaminations which affect the entire tropical free troposphere.

Effect of biomass burning, convective venting, and transport on tropospheric ozone over the Indian Ocean: Reunion Island field observations

Relationships between vertical distribution of tropospheric ozone at Reunion Island (21°S-55°E), satellite (NOAA advanced very high resolution radiometer) observations of fires, smoke plumes, and convective events in southeastern Africa and Madagascar, and analyses of meteorological situations (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) are presented. This study is based on 7 years (1992 to 1999) of 2-monthly PTU-O3 radiosoundings at Reunion. Results show, for the first time, that during 1995 tropospheric ozone content rose above average and that this year should be set apart as atypical. Stratospheric contributions are also ruled out using an identification method based on considerations of ozone, humidity, vertical stability, and meteorological conditions. The seasonal variation of ozone profiles during typical years and without the stratospheric contribution suggests that ozone contamination from biomass burning is a maximum during October in the whole free troposphere. During August, before the deep convection period, but already within the fire period, only the middle troposphere is contaminated by ozone inputs. By contrast, through November to December, well within the deep convection period, all the higher troposphere is contaminated. The comprehensive study of the observations in 1993, taken as a typical year, highlights the roles of convection and transport in contamination of remote oceanic regions. August contamination of the middle troposphere by about 70 ppbv of ozone is contrasted to October enhancement of the whole free troposphere by about 100 ppbv of ozone after the spreading of deep convective events. Fire satellite data further indicate that column integrated contamination level mainly depends on biomass burning intensity. Through August to October the fourfold increase of ozone concentration is comparable with the fivefold augmentation of fires. The redistribution of ozone with altitude depends on the convection intensity near source regions in accordance with convection detection and backtrajectory analysis.

Dynamical study of a tropical cut-off low over South Africa, and its impact on tropospheric ozone

The structure and evolution of an intense tropical cut-off low (COL) occurring over South Africa is documented, by combining meteorological and ozone data from a number of different sources, such as in situ radiosoundings, Measurement of ozone and water vapor by airbus in-service aircraft data, satellite (Meteosat) and modelled European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast data. The COL extends to latitude 10°S, with a lifetime of approximately 2 weeks, and a horizontal size of about 10°. A distinguishing feature of this case study is that it becomes detached from the stratospheric reservoir in both the vertical and horizontal planes, in an irreversible way and as such is different in structure to a mid-latitude or a polar COL. Consequently, even though tropical COLs may occur infrequently, it is likely that the tropospheric ozone enhancement induced by this irreversible intrusion could be significant.

Tropical cirrus clouds : a possible sink for ozone

Using 7 years of ozone, humidity and temperature radiosoundings performed every two-weeks at Reunion Island (21°S, 55°E), a systematic diminution of ozone mixing ratio at level of tropical cirrus clouds is evidenced. The average depletion of ozone concentration, as compared to adjacent levels, is above 25%. This effect is further documented using concomitant Lidar and radiosounding data. Ice cloud particles evidenced from polarization and backscattering Lidar data are observed at the same level than the ozone depletion in a detailed case study. The ozone concentration is 30% weaker at this level than outside the cirrus cloud. Backtrajectory analyses further indicate that the advection of O3-poor layer injected from lower levels is not likely.

A case study of extreme tropospheric ozone contamination in the tropics using in-situ, satellite and meteorological data

Since 1992, more than 150 radiosoundings have been performed from Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean in Southern tropics. On August 25, 1995, tropospheric ozone amounts of over 200 ppbv through the entire troposphere were encountered. Typical values during that period do not usually reach more than 80 ppbv. In order to explain these disturbances, we performed an analysis using satellite and ECMWF data. Results indicate that several mechanisms are working together, including photochemical effect of biomass burning associated with convection, and stratosphere-troposphere exchange near the subtropical jet stream. Based on results shown in this paper, it is difficult to estimate the relative contribution of biomass burning and stratospheric intrusions. Quantitative estimates should stem from other chemical component measurements and from a more detailed dynamical analysis.

Analysis of the origin of the distribution of CO in the subtropical southern Indian Ocean in 2007

We show carbon monoxide (CO) distributions at different vertical levels over the subtropical southern Indian Ocean, analyzing an observation campaign using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) solar absorption spectrometry performed in 2007 at Reunion Island (21°S, 55°E). The CO pollution levels detected by the FTIR measurements during the campaign show a doubling of the CO total columns during the Southern Hemisphere biomass burning season. Using correlative data from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere instrument and back trajectories analyses, we show that the potential primary sources for CO throughout the troposphere in 2007 are southern Africa (June-August) and South America (September-October). A secondary potential contribution from Southeast Asia and Indonesia-Malaysia was identified in the upper troposphere, especially in July and September. We examine the relation between the Asian monsoon anticyclone seasonal cycle and this result. We also investigate the relative contribution of different areas across the globe to the CO concentration in the subtropical southern Indian Ocean in 2007 using backward simulations combining the Lagrangian model FLEXPART 6.2, the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFEDv2.1) and the Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGARv3.2-FT2000). We confirm the predominance of the African and South American contributions in the CO concentration in the southern subtropical Indian Ocean below 11 km. We show that CO transported from Australia makes only a small contribution to the total CO concentration observed over Reunion Island, and that the long-range transport of CO coming from Southeast Asia and Indonesia-Malaysia is important, especially from June until September in the upper troposphere.

Description and evaluation of a tropospheric ozone lidar implemented on an existing lidar in the southern subtropics

Rayleigh-Mie lidar measurements of stratospheric temperature and aerosol profiles have been carried out at Reunion Island (southern tropics) since 1993. Since June 1998, an operational extension of the system is permitting additional measurements of tropospheric ozone to be made by differential absorption lidar. The emission wavelengths (289 and 316 nm) are obtained by stimulated Raman shifting of the fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser in a high-pressure deuterium cell. A mosaic of four parabolic mirrors collects the backscattered signal, and the transmission is processed by the multiple fiber collector method. The altitude range of ozone profiles obtained with this system is 3¿17 km. Technical details of this lidar system working in the southern tropics, comparisons of ozone lidar profiles with radiosondes, and scientific perspectives are presented. The significant lack of tropospheric ozone measurements in the tropical and equatorial regions, the particular scientific interest in these regions, and the altitude range of the ozone measurements to 16¿17 km make this lidar supplement useful and its adaptation technically conceivable at many Rayleigh-Mie lidar stations.

Signatures of stratosphere to troposphere transport near deep convective events in the southern subtropics

[1] A climatology of tropospheric ozone profiles associated with tropical convection in the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean and over South Africa is presented. Then case studies of stratospheric-tropospheric exchange are documented using radiosoundings, ozone lidar, satellite and ECMWF global model data. In three distinct cases of varying tropical convection intensity (depression and cyclone Guillaume near Reunion in February 2002 and convection near Irene in November 2000), strong interaction between convection-induced upper level circulation, jet front systems and Rossby Wave Breaking induces stratosphere to troposphere exchanges. Stratospheric filaments in the upper troposphere evident in the ECMWF analyses are in good agreement with ozone, humidity and temperature vertical profile observations. For the Guillaume case study near Reunion, filaments and subsidence occur in both cases (depression on 15 February and cyclone on 19 February 2002). On 15 February, a moderate enhancement of ozone in the free troposphere is observed and on 19 February, a 100 ppbv ozone peak is recorded. In the Irene case study, a large upper level depression coming from the stratosphere, fed by a filament wrapped around the convective area in the Mozambican channel, induces an ozone peak of larger magnitude (170 ppbv). Secondary ozone sources (jet front system in the Atlantic and biomass burning in South America) could further amplify this ozone enhancement. The radiosounding indicates a strong ozone enhancement in the upper troposphere, without a signature of pumping from the lower layers, in contrast to the Guillaume case.

An instrumented station for the survey of ozone and climate change in the southern tropics

The assessment of changes induced by human activities on Earth atmospheric composition and thus on global climate requires a long-term and regular survey of the stratospheric and tropospheric atmospheric layers. The objective of this paper is to describe the atmospheric observations performed continuously at Reunion Island (55.5 degrees east, 20.8 degrees south) for 15 years. The various instruments contributing to the systematic observations are described as well as the measured parameters, the accuracy and the database. The LiDAR systems give profiles of temperature, aerosols and ozone in the troposphere and stratosphere, probes give profiles of temperature, ozone and relative humidity, radiometers and spectrometers give stratospheric and tropospheric integrated columns of a variety of atmospheric trace gases. Data are included in international networks, and used for satellite validation. Moreover, some scientific activities for which this station offers exceptional opportunities are highlighted, especially air mass exchanges nearby dynamical barriers: (1) On the vertical scale through the tropical tropopause layer (stratosphere-troposphere exchange). (2) On the quasi-horizontal scale across the southern subtropical barrier separating the tropical stratospheric reservoir from mid- and high latitudes.