PREFACE

Executive Summary

1. INTRODUCTION

2. STRATOSPHERIC INDICATORS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Ozone

2.2.1. Introduction

2.2.2. Assessment of trends in the vertical distribution of ozone

2.2.3. Future programme

2.3 Water Vapour

2.3.1. Introduction

2.3.2. The Importance of Lower Stratosphere-Upper Troposphere Water

2.3.3. Present state of knowledge

2.3.4. An overall measurement strategy

2.3.5. Improved determination of the present distribution of UT/LS water

2.3.6. Understanding the mechanisms that maintain the distribution of water vapour

2.3.7. Instrument development

2.3.8. Participation in Global Programs

2.3.9. Concluding Remarks

2.4 Temperature

2.4.1. Objective

2.4.2. Introduction

2.4.3. Activities Initiated

2.4.4. Data sets employed

2.4.5. Findings from the ongoing assessments

2.4.6. Future Plans

2.5 Dynamics

2.5.1. Introduction

2.5.2. Northern Hemisphere

2.5.3. Southern Hemisphere

2.5.4. Consistency among the observed trends

2.5.5. Requirements

2.6 Conclusion

3. STRATOSPHERIC PROCESSES AND THEIR RELATION TO CLIMATE

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Dynamics and transport in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere

3.2.1. Scientific background

3.2.2. Key questions

3.2.3. Missing elements

3.2.4. SPARC activities

3.3 Chemistry and microphysics in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere

3.3.1. Introduction

3.3.2. Current Understanding of the UT/LS: Chemistry, dynamics, and radiation

3.3.3. UT/LS - Interconnections and common approaches

3.3.4. Action and Time Lines

3.4 Gravity wave processes

3.4.1. Introduction

3.4.2. A Global Climatology Based on High Resolution Radiosonde Data

3.4.3. The Practical Parameterisation Problem for General Circulation Models

3.4.4. Observation synthesis and a Possible Field Experiment

3.5 3.4.5. Conclusion

 

4. MODELLING STRATOSPHERIC EFFECTS ON CDDMATE

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Climate-Middle Atmosphere Modelling: GRIPS

4.2.1. Introduction

4.2.2. Phase 1 : Short-term objectives

4.2.3. Phase 2 : Medium-term objectives

4.2.4. Phase 3 : Long-term aims

4.3 Stratospheric Reference Climatology

4.3.1. Introduction

4.3.2. List of Tasks to be performed for Phase 1

4.3.3. Research Activities and Phase 2

4.4 The quasi-biennial oscillation and its possible role in coupling the stratosphere and troposphere

4.4.1. Introduction

4.4.2. Theory and Modelling

4.4.3. Effects of the QBO above the troposphere

4.4.4. QBO Effects on the Troposphere

4.4.5. SPARC Actions

4.5 Stratospheric aspects of climate forcing

4.6 Conclusion

Appendices

I. Lead Scientists

II. Acronyms

III. CEGWE - A proposed field campaign