Two-dimensional model calculations of nitric oxide transport in the middle atmosphere and comparison with Halogen Occultation Experiment data

A two-dimensional chemical transport model has been used to examine the physical processes governing the transport of high levels of thermospheric nitric oxide (NO) downward into the middle atmosphere. Three different facets of this transport are studied. The first facet involves diffusion from the thermosphere to the summertime mesopause region. The second facet involves downward advection by the mean meridional circulation in the wintertime mesosphere and the effects of planetary wave mixing on the latitudinal gradient of NO. The third facet is the residual amount of NO deposited in the springtime upper stratosphere and its senstivity to the magnitude and duration of the unmixed descent which occurred the previous winter. Comparison of the model with observations by the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) suggest the following: (1) A clear auroral enhancement in summertime NO exists at 89 km. Model calculations suggest this results from both in situ ionization and dissociation of N-2 as well as downward diffusion from the thermosphere above 100 km. (2) Using HALOE CH4 observations as a tracer, enhanced NO in the wintertime mesosphere is seen to be transported to latitudes as far equatorward as 30 degrees-40 degrees. The model is in good agreement with these observations when planetary wave mixing is included. Without this mixing, the. enhanced NO remains confined to high latitudes that are not observed by HALOE in winter. (3) The model overestimates the net NO deposited into the upper stratosphere. This appears to be related to the model springtime warming being delayed relative to the real atmosphere. Inclusion of an additional source of drag in the polar stratosphere in late winter yields better agreement with observations.