Detection of the secondary meridional circulation associated with the quasi-biennial oscillation

The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) signal in stratospheric zonal and meridional wind, temperature, and geopotential height fields is analyzed based on the use of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis (1958-2001). The multitaper method-singular value decomposition (MTM...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ribera, P., Peña Ortiz, C., García Herrera, Ricardo Francisco, Gallego, D., Gimeno, L., Hernández Martín, Emiliano
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2004
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/51680
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/51680
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:52
Southern-hemisphere
NCEP reanalysis
Interannual variability
QBO
Ozone
Wave
Stratosphere
Connection
Weather
Signal
Astrofísica
Astronomía (Física)
Descripción
Sumario:The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) signal in stratospheric zonal and meridional wind, temperature, and geopotential height fields is analyzed based on the use of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis (1958-2001). The multitaper method-singular value decomposition (MTM-SVD), a multivariate frequency domain analysis method, is used to detect significant and spatially coherent narrowband oscillations. The QBO is found as the most intense signal in the stratospheric zonal wind. Then, the MTM-SVD method is used to determine the patterns induced by the QBO at every stratospheric level and data field. The secondary meridional circulation associated with the QBO is identified in the obtained patterns. This circulation can be characterized by negative (positive) temperature anomalies associated with adiabatic rising (sinking) motions over zones of easterly (westerly) wind shear and over the subtropics and midlatitudes, while meridional convergence and divergence levels are found separated by a level of maximum zonal wind shear. These vertical and meridional motions form quasi-symmetric circulation cells over both hemispheres, though less intense in the Southern Hemisphere.