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HOME > Stratosphere Home > Stratospheric Intrusion Monitorng
 
 
Brief Introduction to Stratospheric Intrusions

Stratospheric Intrusions are when stratospheric air dynamically decends into the troposphere and may reach the surface, bringing with it high concentrations of ozone which may be harmful to some people. Stratospheric Intrusions are identified by very low tropopause heights, low heights of the 2 potential vorticity unit (PVU) surface, very low relative and specific humidity concentrations, and high concentrations of ozone. Stratospheric Intrusions commonly follow strong cold fronts and can extend across multiple states. In satellite imagery, Stratospheric Intrusions are identified by very low moisture levels in the water vapor channels (6.2, 6.5, and 6.9 micron). Along with the dry air, Stratospheric Intrusions bring high amounts of ozone into the tropospheric column and possibly near the surface. This may be harmful to some people with breathing impairments. Stratospheric Intrusions are more common in the winter/spring months and are more frequent during La Nina periods. Frequent or sustained occurances of Stratospheric Intrusions may decrease the air quality enough to exceed EPA guidelines.

NCEP Global Forecast System model (GFS) analyses and forecasts of certain variables in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) can identify current and future Stratospheric Intrusion events. GFS analysis and forecast plots are generated each day from the 00Z cycle at 12 hour intervals out to 5 days (f120).

Stratospheric Intrusions can be identified as red colored areas on GOES RGB Air Mass imagery on the RAMMB/CIRA "SLIDER" web page.

 
NCEP/GFS Analyses and Forecasts
Forecast Hours
f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
Height 2 PVU f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
PV on 320K f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
Tropopause Height f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
Total Ozone f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
O3MR 100 hPa f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
O3MR 150 hPa f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
O3MR 200 hPa f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
O3MR 250 hPa f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
O3MR 300 hPa f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
O3MR 350 hPa f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
O3MR 400 hPa f000 f012 f024 f036 f048 f060 f072 f084 f096 f108 f120
 

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