Abstract
A BIENNIAL oscillation in tropical stratospheric winds1–3 and total amounts of ozone4–6 has been well documented during the past few years and its discovery has led to a re-examination of much of the earlier work on biennial oscillations in surface temperature, rainfall, tree rings, lake levels and other parameters which depend on conditions in the troposphere7. I have argued elsewhere8 that the oscillation in the stratosphere is caused by changes in the troposphere, and this argument is in line with much of the present thinking about tropospheric–stratospheric interactions, which holds that the lower stratosphere receives its driving energy from below9–11. If this reasoning is correct then there must be sought a source for the 26-month oscillation in the tropospheric heat engine. One possibility is some type of internal oscillation; another is that the incoming radiation which drives the tropospheric heat engine (approximately 3000 Å to 2µ is modulated with a 26-month oscillation.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ebdon, R. A., and Veyard, R. G., Nature, 189, 791 (1961).
Reed, R. J., Campbell, W. J., Rasmussen, L. A., and Rogers, D. G., J. Geophys. Res., 66, 813 (1961).
Angell, J. K., and Korshover, J., Mon. Weath. Rev., 91, 537 (1963).
Funk, J. P., and Garnham, G. L., Tellus, 14, 378 (1962).
Ramanathan, K. R., Quart. J. R. Meteor. Soc., 89, 540 (1963).
Rangarajan, S., Nature, 201, 178 (1964).
Landsberg, H. E., Beit. Phys. Atmos., 35, 184 (1962).
Newell, R. E., J. Atmos. Sci., 21, 320 (1964).
Newell, R. E., J. Atmos. Sci., 20, 213 (1963).
Oort, A. H., Tellus, 16 (in the press).
Van Mieghem, J., Met Abh., 36, 5 (1963).
Landsberg, H. E., Mitchell, J. M., Crutcher, H. L., and Quinlan, F., Mon. Weath. Rev., 91, 549 (1963).
Newell, R. E., Pure and App. Geophys. (in the press).
Airy, G. B., Phil. Mag., Ser. 4, Supp., 22, 532 (1861).
Cullen, R. T., Mon. Not. Roy. Astro. Soc., 86, 344 (1926).
Lane Poor, C., Astrophys. J., 22, 103, 305 (1905).
Schur, W., and Ambronn, L., Sternwarte zu Gottingen Mittheilungen, 7, (1905).
Di Legge, A., Atti della R. Accademia dei Lincie, Ser. 4, Mem., 1, 232 (1884).
Abetti, G., The Sun, 90 (Macmillan Co., New York, 1957).
Armellini, G., Rendiconti Lincei, Ser. 6, 5, 133 (1927); 9, 368 (1929); 13, 635 (1931); 14, 268 (1934); 29, 235 (1939).
Armellini, G., Scientia, 39, 1 (1926).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
NEWELL, R. 26-Month Oscillation in Atmospheric Properties and the Apparent Solar Diameter. Nature 204, 278–279 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/204278a0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/204278a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
