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Vertical and off-diagonal eddy diffusivities in the Northern Hemispheric stratosphere and lower mesosphere

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Abstract

Meteorological rocket soundings, launched between 1968–74 at six locations representative of low, middle, and high latitudes in the northern hemisphere, are employed to determine the vertical, meridional and off-diagonal components of the eddy diffusivity in the northern hemispheric statosphere and lower mesosphere.

It is shown that the distribution of the vertical and meridional components of the eddy diffusivity are similar in the northern hemisphere, although the magnitude of the former is 107 smaller than that of the latter; the magnitude of the off-diagonal eddy diffusivity is about 103 smaller than that of the meridional eddy diffusivity. In the troposphere, a maximum eddy diffusivity occurs in the mid-latitude at about 7 km above the mean sea level for both the summer and winter seasons. In the stratosphere, a maximum eddy diffusivity occurs in the mid-latitude at about 33 km in the winter, but no maximum in the summer.

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Kao, S.K., Kau, W.S. Vertical and off-diagonal eddy diffusivities in the Northern Hemispheric stratosphere and lower mesosphere. PAGEOPH 118, 1007–1014 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01593046

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01593046

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