Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

The seasonal cycle of stratosphere-troposphere coupling at southern high latitudes associated with the semi-annual oscillation in sea-level pressure

  • Published:
Climate Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The semi-annual oscillation (SAO) in sea-level pressure at high southern latitudes is the consequence of a twice-yearly contraction (and strengthening) and expansion (and weakening) of the storm track between 50 and 65°S, with the contracted phases in spring and autumn. In this study the extent to which inter-annual variability of the SAO is correlated with inter-annual variability in mid- to lower-stratospheric circulation at 60°S was determined using NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis 1 data for the period 1979–2009. The second harmonic of the annual cycle of an SAO index was used to assess SAO amplitude and phase (the date of the first peak of the second harmonic). Zonal mean zonal wind at 60°S was used as an index for atmospheric circulation. The results show that year-to-year variability in the SAO amplitude is significantly correlated with mid-stratospheric (10 hPa) circulation variability in late summer/early autumn (February–March) and late winter/early spring (August–September). However, variability in the SAO phase is significantly correlated with mid-stratospheric circulation variability in spring (September–November). These maxima in significant correlations at 10 hPa propagate down to the surface in approximately one month. The characteristics of upward planetary wave propagation alone do not explain the late summer/early autumn and spring maxima in correlations. Evidence is shown that internal reflection of stationary wave-number 1 is important for explaining the strong correlations in late summer/early autumn, but that large variability during polar vortex break-up dominates the spring correlations. The results may be important for understanding seasonal differences in how stratospheric ozone depletion influences tropospheric circulation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The 10 hPa correlation maximum that leads the November SAO index by ~45 days in Fig. 5 is much more distinct with 2002 removed from the correlation calculations.

References

  • Baldwin MP, Edmon HJ, Holton JR (1985) A Diagnostic Study of Eddy-Mean Flow Interactions during FGGE SOP-1. J Atmos Sci 42(17):1838–1845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boccara G, Hertzog A, Basdevant C, Vial F (2008) Accuracy of NCEP/NCAR reanalyses and ECMWF analyses in the lower stratosphere over Antarctica in 2005. J Geophys Res Atmos 113(D20)

  • Bracegirdle TJ, Connolley WM, and Turner J (2008) Antarctic climate change over the twenty first century. J Geophys Res Atmos 113(D3). doi:10.1029/2007jd008933

  • Bromwich DH, Fogt RL, Hodges KI, and Walsh JE (2007) A tropospheric assessment of the ERA-40, NCEP, and JRA-25 global reanalyses in the polar regions. J Geophys Res Atmos 112(D10): D10111. doi:10.1029/2006jd007859

  • Butchart N, Clough SA, Palmer TN, Trevelyan PJ (1982) Simulations of an observed stratospheric warming with quasigeostrophic refractive index as a model diagnostic. Quart J Roy Meteor Soc 108(457):475–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charlton AJ, O’Neill A, Lahoz WA, Massacand AC, Berrisford P (2005) The impact of the stratosphere on the troposphere during the southern hemisphere stratospheric sudden warming, September 2002. Quart J Roy Meteor Soc 131(609):2171–2188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charney JG, Drazin PG (1961) Propagation of planetary-scale disturbances from the lower into the upper atmosphere. J Geophys Res Atmos 66:83–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen P, Robinson WA (1992) Propagation of Planetary Waves between the Troposphere and Stratosphere. J Atmos Sci 49(24):2533–2545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen B (1999) Stratospheric vacillations in a general circulation model. J Atmos Sci 56(12):1858–1872

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graversen RG, Christiansen B (2003) Downward propagation from the stratosphere to the troposphere: a comparison of the two hemispheres. J Geophys Res Atmos 108(D24):4780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haigh JD, Roscoe HK (2009) The final warming date of the antarctic polar vortex and influences on its interannual variability. J Clim 22(22):5809–5819. doi:10.1175/2009jcli2865.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harnik N, Lindzen RS (2001) The effect of reflecting surfaces on the vertical structure and variability of stratospheric planetary waves. J Atmos Sci 58(19):2872–2894

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann DL, Mechoso CR, Yamazaki K (1984) Observations of Wave-Mean Flow Interaction in the Southern Hemisphere. J Atmos Sci 41(3):351–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirota I, Hirooka T, Shiotani M (1983) Upper stratospheric circulations in the 2 hemispheres observed by satellite. Quart J Roy Meteor Soc 109(461):443–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell JW, van Loon H (1994) A modulation of the atmospheric annual cycle in the Southern Hemisphere. Tellus 46A:325–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalnay E, Kanamitsu M, Kistler R, Collins W, Deaven D, Gandin L, Iredell M, Saha S, White G, Woollen J, Zhu Y, Chelliah M, Ebisuzaki W, Higgins W, Janowiak J, Mo KC, Ropelewski C, Wang J, Leetmaa A, Reynolds R, Jenne R, Joseph D (1996) The NCEP/NCAR 40-year reanalysis project. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 77:437–471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karoly DJ, Hoskins BJ (1982) Three dimensional propagation of planetary waves. J Meteorol Soc Jpn 60(1):109–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Kodera K, Mukougawa H, Itoh S (2008) Tropospheric impact of reflected planetary waves from the stratosphere. Geophys Res Lett 35(16)

  • Kuroda Y, Kodera K (1998) Interannual variability in the troposphere and stratosphere of the southern hemisphere winter. J Geophys Res Atmos 103(D12):13787–13799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manney GL, Allen DR, Kruger K, Naujokat B, Santee ML, Sabutis JL, Pawson S, Swinbank R, Randall CE, Simmons AJ, Long C (2005) Diagnostic comparison of meteorological analyses during the 2002 antarctic winter. Mon Weather Rev 133(5):1261–1278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall GJ (2002) Trends in Antarctic geopotential height and temperature: a comparison between radiosonde and NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data. J Clim 15:659–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuno T (1970) Vertical propagation of stationary planetary waves in the Winter Northern Hemisphere. J Atmos Sci 27(6):871–883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meehl GA, Hurrell JW, van Loon H (1998) A modulation of the mechanism of the semiannual oscillation in the Southern Hemisphere. Tellus 50A(4):442–450. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0870.1998.t01-3-00005.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer TN (1981) Diagnostic Study of a Wavenumber-2 Stratospheric Sudden Warming in a Transformed Eulerian-Mean Formalism. J Atmos Sci 38(4):844–855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perlwitz J, Harnik N (2003) Observational evidence of a stratospheric influence on the troposphere by planetary wave reflection. J Clim 16(18):3011–3026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perlwitz J, Harnik N (2004) Downward coupling between the stratosphere and troposphere: the relative roles of wave and zonal mean processes. J Clim 17(24):4902–4909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plumb RA (1989) On the seasonal cycle of stratospheric planetary waves. Pure Appl Geophys 130(2–3):233–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plumb RA, Semeniuk K (2003) Downward migration of extratropical zonal wind anomalies. J Geophys Res Atmos 108(D7): 4223. doi:10.1029/2002jd002773

  • Randel WJ (1988) The seasonal evolution of planerary waves in the southern hemisphere stratosphere and troposphere. Quart J Roy Meteor Soc 114(484):1385–1409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raphael MN, Holland MM (2006) Twentieth century simulation of the southern hemisphere climate in coupled models. Part 1: large scale circulation variability. Clim Dyn 26: 217–228. doi:10.1007/s00382-005-0082-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwerdtfeger W, Prohash F (1956) The semi-annual pressure oscillation, its cause and effects. J Atmos Sci 13(2):217–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott RK, Haynes PH (2002) The seasonal cycle of planetary waves in the winter stratosphere. J Atmos Sci 59(4):803–822

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seppala A, Randall CE, Clilverd MA, Rozanov E, Rodger CJ (2009) Geomagnetic activity and polar surface air temperature variability. J Geophys Res Space Phys 114:A10312. doi:10.1029/2008ja014029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shine KP (1987) The middle atmosphere in the absence of dynamical heat fluxes. Quart J Roy Meteor Soc 113(476):603–633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiotani M, Shimoda N, Hirota I (1993) Interannual variability of the stratospheric circulation in the southern hemisphere. Quart J Roy Meteor Soc 119(511):531–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson IR, Blackburn M, Haigh JD (2009) The role of eddies in driving the tropospheric response to stratospheric heating perturbations. J Atmos Sci 66(5):1347–1365. doi:10.1175/2008jas2758.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taschetto A, Wainer I, Raphael M (2007) Interannual variability associated with Semiannual Oscillation in southern high latitudes. J Geophys Res Atmos 112(D2): D02106. doi:10.1029/2006jd007648

  • Thompson DWJ, Solomon S (2002) Interpretation of recent Southern Hemisphere climate change. Science 296:895–899. doi:10.1126/science.1069270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van den Broeke MR (2000a) The semiannual oscillation and Antarctic climate, Part 5: impact on the annual temperature cycle as derived from NCEP/NCAR re-analysis. Clim Dyn 16:369–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van den Broeke MR (2000b) The semi-annual oscillation and Antarctic climate. Part 4: A note on sea ice cover in the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas. Int J Climatol 20:455–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Loon H (1967) The half-yearly oscillations in middle and high Southern latitudes and the coreless winter. J Atmos Sci 24:472–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wakata Y, Uryu M (1987) Stratospheric multiple equilibria and seasonal variations. J Meteorol Soc Jpn 65(1):27–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Walland D, Simmonds I (1999) Baroclinicity, meridional temperature gradients, and the southern semiannual oscillation. J Clim 12:3376–3382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan XJ, Li CH (2008) Climate modes in southern high latitudes and their impacts on Antarctic sea ice. J Geophys Res Oceans 113(C6): C06S91. doi:10.1029/2006jc004067

Download references

Acknowledgments

Andrew Orr is thanked for his rigorous and insightful reviews of early drafts of this paper. Two anonymous reviewers are thanked for their thoughtful and useful comments, which helped to considerably improve the manuscript. This study is part of the British Antarctic Survey Polar Science for Planet Earth Programme. It was funded by The Natural Environment Research Council. The NCEP Reanalysis data was provided by the NOAA/OAR/ESRL PSD, Boulder, Colorado, USA, from their Web site at http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK

    Thomas J. Bracegirdle

Authors
  1. Thomas J. Bracegirdle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas J. Bracegirdle.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bracegirdle, T.J. The seasonal cycle of stratosphere-troposphere coupling at southern high latitudes associated with the semi-annual oscillation in sea-level pressure. Clim Dyn 37, 2323–2333 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-011-1014-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-011-1014-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation