Effects of Greenhouse Gas Increase and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion on Stratospheric Mean Age of Air in 1960–2010

Abstract

The relative impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) increase and stratospheric ozone depletion onstratospheric mean age of air in the 1960–2010 period are quantified using the Goddard Earth ObservingSystem Chemistry-Climate Model. The experiment compares controlled simulations using a coupledatmosphere-ocean version of the Goddard Earth Observing System Chemistry-Climate Model, in which eitherGHGs or ozone depleting substances, or both factors evolve over time. The model results show that GHGsand ozone depleting substances have about equal contributions to the simulated mean age decrease, butGHG increases account for about two thirds of the enhanced strength of the lower stratospheric residualcirculation. It is also found that both the acceleration of the diabatic circulation and the decrease of the meanage difference between downwelling and upwelling regions are mainly caused by GHG forcing. The resultsshow that ozone depletion causes an increase in the mean age of air in the Antarctic summer lowerstratosphere through two processes: (1) a seasonal delay in the Antarctic polar vortex breakup that inhibitsyoung midlatitude air from mixing with the older air inside the vortex, and (2) enhanced Antarcticdownwelling that brings older air from middle and upper stratosphere into the lower stratosphere.