Gravity Waves, Upper Tropospheric Dehydration and Stratospheric Water Vapor

Two components of Marvin Geller's research have been focused on gravity wave dynamics and the distribution of trace gases within the stratosphere. These two components combine in explaining the upper tropical tropospheric (UTT) dehydration process that controls stratospheric water vapor. Rapid gravity wave temperature oscillations increase the number of ice crystals formed during a dehydration event, in turn increasing cloud dehydration efficiency. Using a spectrum of gravity waves, we generate ice particle statistics that are in good agreement with recent ATTREX observations. Not surprisingly, the presence of gravity waves also increases cirrus cloud fraction. Our results show that cloud physics and gravity wave temperature fluctuations cannot be neglected in simulating the upper tropospheric dehydration process and the simulation of cirrus formation.