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Transient flow patterns of an annular-like stratospheric polar vortex
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DOI：10.5194/wcd-7-717-2026.png)
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Abstract
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Abstract. A two-component study is undertaken of sub-planetary scale flow features associated with the wintertime polar-night vortex at upper-stratospheric levels. First; case studies based upon reanalysis data are presented to illustrate the scale; structure; evolution and dynamics of the features potential vorticity in three disparate flow settings along with signatures of some accompanying flow; thermal; and constituent variables. The features are shown to be present near the periphery of the vortex and are associated with the vortex's predilection to develop a structure akin to an annular-like band of enhanced potential vorticity. Second; theoretical considerations and numerical model simulations of perturbations of an annular band of enhanced absolute vorticity using a non-divergent barotropic model on a polar β-plane yield results consistent both with the occurrence and character of the observed sub-planetary scale features; and with the rapid reconfiguration of the band when subject to a planetary scale wave perturbation. The latter result suggests that that the break-up of the polar vortex at stratopause-levels can be facilitated by the synergetic combination of strong planetary-scale Rossby-wave forcing from below acting upon the vortex's annular potential vorticity band.
Keywords:
sub-planetary scale flow
polar-night vortex
potential vorticity
annular band
Rossby-wave forcing
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