Analyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study

In recent decades, efforts to investigate atmospheric circulation patterns have predominantly relied on either semi-empirical datasets (i.e., reanalyses) or modeled output (i.e., global climate models, GCMs). While both approaches can provide important insights, there is a need for more empirical da...

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Autores principales:	Michael Connolly, Ronan Connolly, Willie Soon, Víctor M. Velasco Herrera, Rodolfo Gustavo Cionco, Nancy E. Quaranta
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	weather balloon data molar densities troposphere-stratosphere correlations atmospheric mass motion/circulation Meteorology. Climatology QC851-999
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/1b791769db194b76b7e41180b5ae5777
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id	oai:doaj.org-article:1b791769db194b76b7e41180b5ae5777
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:1b791769db194b76b7e41180b5ae57772021-11-25T16:44:49ZAnalyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study10.3390/atmos121114392073-4433https://doaj.org/article/1b791769db194b76b7e41180b5ae57772021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/11/1439https://doaj.org/toc/2073-4433In recent decades, efforts to investigate atmospheric circulation patterns have predominantly relied on either semi-empirical datasets (i.e., reanalyses) or modeled output (i.e., global climate models, GCMs). While both approaches can provide important insights, there is a need for more empirical data to supplement these approaches. In this paper, we demonstrate how the application of relatively simple calculations to the basic measurements from a standard weather balloon radiosonde can provide a vertical profile of the horizontal atmospheric mass fluxes. These mass fluxes can be resolved into their meridional (north/south) and zonal (east/west) components. This provides a new useful empirical tool for analyzing atmospheric circulations. As a case study, we analyze the results for a selected five stations along a fairly constant meridian in the North Atlantic sector from 2015–2019. For each station, we find the atmospheric mass flux profiles from the lower troposphere to mid-stratosphere are surprisingly coherent, suggesting stronger interconnection between the troposphere and stratosphere than previously thought. Although our five stations span a region nominally covered by the classical polar, Ferrel and Hadley meridional circulation cells, the results are inconsistent with those expected for polar and Ferrel cells and only partially consistent with that of a Hadley cell. However, the region is marked by very strong prevailing westerly (west to east) mass fluxes for most of the atmosphere except for the equatorial surface easterlies (“trade winds”). We suggest that the extension of the techniques of this case study to other stations and time periods could improve our understanding of atmospheric circulation patterns and their time variations.Michael ConnollyRonan ConnollyWillie SoonVíctor M. Velasco HerreraRodolfo Gustavo CioncoNancy E. QuarantaMDPI AGarticleweather balloon datamolar densitiestroposphere-stratosphere correlationsatmospheric mass motion/circulationMeteorology. ClimatologyQC851-999ENAtmosphere, Vol 12, Iss 1439, p 1439 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	weather balloon data molar densities troposphere-stratosphere correlations atmospheric mass motion/circulation Meteorology. Climatology QC851-999
spellingShingle	weather balloon data molar densities troposphere-stratosphere correlations atmospheric mass motion/circulation Meteorology. Climatology QC851-999 Michael Connolly Ronan Connolly Willie Soon Víctor M. Velasco Herrera Rodolfo Gustavo Cionco Nancy E. Quaranta Analyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study
description	In recent decades, efforts to investigate atmospheric circulation patterns have predominantly relied on either semi-empirical datasets (i.e., reanalyses) or modeled output (i.e., global climate models, GCMs). While both approaches can provide important insights, there is a need for more empirical data to supplement these approaches. In this paper, we demonstrate how the application of relatively simple calculations to the basic measurements from a standard weather balloon radiosonde can provide a vertical profile of the horizontal atmospheric mass fluxes. These mass fluxes can be resolved into their meridional (north/south) and zonal (east/west) components. This provides a new useful empirical tool for analyzing atmospheric circulations. As a case study, we analyze the results for a selected five stations along a fairly constant meridian in the North Atlantic sector from 2015–2019. For each station, we find the atmospheric mass flux profiles from the lower troposphere to mid-stratosphere are surprisingly coherent, suggesting stronger interconnection between the troposphere and stratosphere than previously thought. Although our five stations span a region nominally covered by the classical polar, Ferrel and Hadley meridional circulation cells, the results are inconsistent with those expected for polar and Ferrel cells and only partially consistent with that of a Hadley cell. However, the region is marked by very strong prevailing westerly (west to east) mass fluxes for most of the atmosphere except for the equatorial surface easterlies (“trade winds”). We suggest that the extension of the techniques of this case study to other stations and time periods could improve our understanding of atmospheric circulation patterns and their time variations.
format	article
author	Michael Connolly Ronan Connolly Willie Soon Víctor M. Velasco Herrera Rodolfo Gustavo Cionco Nancy E. Quaranta
author_facet	Michael Connolly Ronan Connolly Willie Soon Víctor M. Velasco Herrera Rodolfo Gustavo Cionco Nancy E. Quaranta
author_sort	Michael Connolly
title	Analyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study
title_short	Analyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study
title_full	Analyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study
title_fullStr	Analyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study
title_full_unstemmed	Analyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study
title_sort	analyzing atmospheric circulation patterns using mass fluxes calculated from weather balloon measurements: north atlantic region as a case study
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/1b791769db194b76b7e41180b5ae5777
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Analyzing Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Using Mass Fluxes Calculated from Weather Balloon Measurements: North Atlantic Region as a Case Study

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