How Well Do Current Models Represent Chemical and Physical Processes in the Upper Troposphere and Lower stratosphere?

By, D. J. Wuebbles1, C. F. Wei1, D. Kinnison2 1Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 2National Center for Atmospheric Research, CO

There remain significant uncertainties in understanding the changes in atmospheric chemical and physical processes affecting ozone and other constituents in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UT/LS), the first few kilometers above and below the tropopause. A series of analyses using satellite and aircraft measurements, in combination with modeling tools, to better understand the processes affecting atmospheric composition and transport processes in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. The primary focus of these calculations is to evaluate the correlation of the stratospheric abundance of N2O, O3, NOy, H2O and CH4 in the UT/LS using the new fully coupled troposphere, stratosphere and mesosphere version of the three-dimensional global scale chemical-transport model, MOZART 3 (Model for OZone And other Related Tracers, version 3). The extratropics is a particular focus as more measurements are available in this region. Studies are particularly aimed at testing, evaluating and interpretation of recent measurements made by SAGE III, HALOE and other satellite instruments and by observations made from various aircraft campaigns, ozonesondes, and balloon experiments. Part of the objective of this study is to use MOZART-3 in studies to understand the relative roles of chemistry and transport in determining the budget of ozone and other constituents in the UT/LS region. Our intention is to have as comprehensive as possible and systematic analysis of the UT/LS region.