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Stratospheric-tropospheric exchange influenced by solar activity. Results of a 5 years study

Stratosphärisch-troposphärischer Austausch, beeinflußt durch solare Aktivität. Ergebnisse einer 5 jährigen Untersuchung

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Summary

Recordings of the Be7 and fallout in air and O3 obtained at a mountain observatory in 3 km altitude (Zugspitze) constitute the basis for a study of the question whether the frequency of intrusions of stratospheric air into the troposphere is influenced by solar events. The data cover the period from end of 1969 to February 1975.

An influx of stratospheric air passing the measuring station is indicated by a noticeable increase in concentration of the said 3 stratospheric materials. As a statistical method we are using superposed epoch analyses for studying the variations of the concentrations of the stratospheric materials. The following solar events are used as key days: a)H α flares with importance>1 and between 20°W and 20°E of heliographic length; b) passages of solar magnetic sector structure boundaries considering thereby their polarity.

Aside from the stratospheric materials 1. the following solar parameters are superposed: Sunspot number, calcium plage index, solar flux intensity (2695 MHz), and 2. the following geophysical parameters: Radio propagation index, neutron component of cosmic rays, geomagnetic index. Not at least the stratospheric residence time is taken into account.

Based on the results it can be established with certainty that the frequency of stratospheric intrusions into the troposphere is distinctly increased by solar flares and passages of solar magnetic sector structure boundaries. This correlation is not only significant during maximum solar activity but also during solar quiet.

Zusammenfassung

Registrierungen von Be7, Ozon und Fallout in der Luft an einem Bergobservatorium in 3 km Höhe (Zugspitze) bilden die Grundlage für eine Untersuchung der Frage, ob die Häufigkeit stratosphärischer Lufteinbrüche in die Troposphäre von solaren Ereignissen beeinflußt wird. Die Daten umfassen den Zeitraum von Ende 1969 bis Februar 1975. Ein Zufluß stratosphärischer Luft zu der Meßstation wird durch einen bemerkenswerten Anstieg der Konzentrationen der 3 genannten Spurenstoffe stratosphärischen Ursprungs signifikant angezeigt. Wir benutzen die Synchronisationsmethode un Stichtage um die Abhängigkeit der Konzentrationen der stratosphärischen Spurenstoffe von solaren Ereignissen zu studieren. Folgende Ereignisse werden als Stichtage verwendet: a)H α Eruptionen mit Stärke >1 und zwischen 20°W und 20°E heliographischer Länge; b) Passagen der Sektorengrenzen des solaren interplanetarischen Magnetfeldes, wobei seine Polarität berücksichtigt wird.

Abgesehen von den Konzentrationen der stratosphärischen Stoffe werden die folgenden Parameter synchronisiert: Calcium-Flecken-Index, Sonnenfleckenzahl, Neutronenkomponente der kosmischen Strahlung, geomagnetische Aktivität. Nicht zuletzt werden die stratosphärischen Verweilzeiten mit in Betracht gezogen.

Auf der Grundlage dieser so gewonnenen Ergebnisse konnte mit Sicherheit festgestellt werden, daß die Häufigkeit der Stratosphärenluft-Einbrüche nachH α-Eruptionen und Passagen von interplanetarischen magnetischen Sektorengrenzen deutlich ansteigt. Dieser Zusammenhang gilt nicht nur während maximaler solarer Aktivität, sondern auch während solarer Ruhe.

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  1. R. Reiter & M. Littfaß

    Present address: Institute for Atmospheric Environmental Research of the Fraunhofer Society, Kreuzeckbahnstraße 19, D-8100, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Federal Republic of Germany

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    Reiter, R., Littfaß, M. Stratospheric-tropospheric exchange influenced by solar activity. Results of a 5 years study. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biokl. A. 26, 127–154 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02247159

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