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Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2669
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2669
10 Sep 2024
 | 10 Sep 2024

The Joint Effect of Mid-latitude Winds and the Westerly Quasi-Biennial Oscillation Phase on the Antarctic Stratospheric Polar Vortex and Ozone

Zhe Wang, Jiankai Zhang, and Siyi Zhao

Abstract. The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) dynamically interacts with the extratropical atmosphere. However, the relationship between the QBO in austral winter and the Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex in spring remains unclear. Here, we proposed a joint predictor involving the QBO for the Antarctic polar vortex and ozone in austral spring. During the westerly QBO phase (WQBO), positive anomalies in the zonal-mean zonal wind at 20° S−40° S in the upper stratosphere in July, named as the extratropical positive mode, can lead to a stronger Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex and lower ozone concentration in November, with correlations reaching 0.75 and 0.60. The mechanism is summarized as follows: the positive extratropical mode triggers a secondary circulation, which further alters the environmental condition for wave propagation in the stratosphere, pushing the positive anomalous zonal-mean zonal wind towards the pole. While during the easterly QBO phase (EQBO), the correlation of the extratropical mode and the strength of polar vortex is only 0.1. Due to stronger upward motions in the tropics, which opposes the secondary circulation caused by the extratropical mode, the EQBO cannot sustain the positive anomalous zonal-mean zonal wind until November. Our results highlight that the extratropical mode during WQBO could serve as a reliable predictor of the Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex and Antarctic ozone hole with a five-month time lag.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

25 Mar 2025
The joint effect of mid-latitude winds and the westerly quasi-biennial oscillation phase on the Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex and ozone
Zhe Wang, Jiankai Zhang, Siyi Zhao, and Douwang Li
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3465–3480, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3465-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3465-2025, 2025
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Mid-latitude wind in upper stratosphere is indispensable in establishing quasi-biennial...
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