FastFind »   Lastname: doi:10.1029/ Year: | Advanced Search  

AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Geochemical cycles
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Thermosphere—composition and chemistry
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Evolution of the atmosphere
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Middle atmosphere—composition and chemistry
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pressure, density, and temperature

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 16, NO. 12, PP. 1441-1444, 1989
doi:10.1029/GL016i012p01441

How will changes in carbon dioxide and methane modify the mean structure of the mesosphere and thermosphere?

R. G. Roble

High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research

R. E. Dickinson

Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research

A global average model of the coupled mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere is used to examine the effect of trace gas variations on the overall structure of these regions. In particular, the variations caused by CO 2 and CH 4 doublings and halvings from present day mixing ratios are presented. The results indicate that the mesosphre and thermosphere temperatures will cool by about 10K and 50K respectively as the CO 2 and CH 4 mixing ratios are doubled. These regions are heated by similar amounts when the trace gas mixing ratios are halved. Compositional redistributions also occur in association with changes in the temperature profile. The results show that global change will occur in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere as well as in the lower atmosphere during the 21st century.

Received 14 September 1989; accepted 5 October 1989; .

Citation: Roble, R. G., and R. E. Dickinson (1989), How will changes in carbon dioxide and methane modify the mean structure of the mesosphere and thermosphere?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 16(12), 1441–1444, doi:10.1029/GL016i012p01441.

Cited By

Please wait one moment ...