Abstract
The impact of different base-level analyses on derived stratospheric circulation statistics for the Southern Hemisphere has been assessed. Three different sets of daily operational analyses of geopotential height at 100 hPa for September, 1981 have been used as the base-level analyses, combined with a single set of daily thickness analyses for the stratosphere. The circulation statistics considered include mean fields, transient eddy statistics, Eliassen-Palm flux diagnostics and vorticity fields.
In general, the different base-level analyses do not change the qualitative description of the circulation statistics but they lead to marked quantitative differences, particularly at high latitudes. The statistics which are most sensitive to the different base-level analyses are those which emphasise the shortest space scales through multiple differentiation of the height field and the shortest time scales, such as daily Eliassen-Palm flux diagrams or the daily vorticity fields.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Edmon, H. J., B. J. Hoskins, andM. E. McIntyre (1980),Eliassen-Palm cross-sections for the troposphere, J. Atmos. Sci.37, 2600–2616.
Hartmann, D. L. (1976),The structure of the stratosphere in the Southern Hemisphere during late winter 1973 as observed by satellite, J. Atmos. Sci.33, 1141–1154.
Hartmann, D. L., C.R. Mechoso, andK. Yamazaki (1984),Observations of wave-mean flow interaction in the Southern Hemisphere, J. Atmos. Sci.41, 351–362.
Mechoso, C. R., D. L. Hartmann, andJ. D. Farrara (1985),Climatology and interannual variability of wave, mean flow interaction in the Southern Hemisphere, J. Atmos. Sci.42, 2189–2206.
Randel, W. J. (1987a),A study of planetary waves in the southern winter troposphere and stratosphere. Part I: Wave structure and propagation, J. Atmos. Sci.44, 917–935.
Randel, W. J. (1987b),The evaluation of winds from geopotential height data in the stratosphere, J. Atmos. Sci.44, 3097–3120.
Salby, M. L. (1981),Optimal determination of geopotential base height for stratospheric temperature sounders, Pure Appl. Geophys.119, 711–725.
Shiotani, M. andI. Hirota (1985),Planetary wave-mean flow interaction in the stratosphere: A comparison between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, Quart. J. Roy. Met. Soc.111, 309–334.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karoly, D.J. The impact of base-level analyses on stratospheric circulation statistics for the Southern Hemisphere. PAGEOPH 130, 181–194 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874454
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874454