Abstract
FLOW phenomena that link the stratosphere and the troposphere are a key component of mid-latitude weather systems1, and can influence substantially the distribution of atmospheric gases and aerosols2,3. Little is known, however, about the detailed structure of these features. Here we combine satellite measurements with data from a weather prediction model to show that fine-scale structure can be resolved in intrusions of stratospheric air into the troposphere. We observe intrusions that develop into elongated (about 2,000km) and slender (about 200km) streamers which break up into a train of vortex-like disturbances while the streamer's tip splits and/or rolls up. The appearance of these structures might influence the daily development of weather systems, and will induce local, irreversible isentropic mixing of stratospheric air with the troposphere, possibly accounting for a substantial portion of the net stratosphere-to-troposphere exchange.
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Appenzeller, C., Davies, H. Structure of stratospheric intrusions into the troposphere. Nature 358, 570–572 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/358570a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/358570a0
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