Determination of stratospheric temperature and density by GOMOS: Verification with respect to high latitude LIDAR profiles from Thule, Greenland

New Zealand

High resolution temperature profiles (HRTP) have been derived from measurements performed by Global
Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars (GOMOS) onboard ENVISAT. HRTP are derived from measurements with
two fast photometers whose signal is sampled at 1 kHz, and allows investigating the role of irregularities in the density
and temperature profiles, such as those associated with gravity waves. In this study high resolution temperature and
density profiles measured at high latitude by GOMOS are compared with observations made with the ground-based
aerosol/temperature LIDAR at Thule, Greenland. The LIDAR at Thule contributes to the Network for the Detection of
Atmospheric Composition Change. The LIDAR profiles are analyzed in the height interval overlapping with GOMOS
data (22-35 km), and the density and temperature profiles are obtained with 250 m vertical resolution. The comparison is
focused on data collected during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 Arctic winters. Profiles measured within 6 hours and 500
km are selected. The profiles are classified based on spatial and temporal variability of dynamical indicators over Thule
and at the GOMOS tangent height position. Several corresponding features can be identified in the GOMOS and LIDAR
profiles, suggesting that the GOMOS HRTP could be used to investigate the global distribution of small scale
fluctuations. As an example, two cases corresponding to inner and outer vortex conditions during the 2008-2009 winter
are discussed, also in relation with the very intense sudden stratospheric warming occurred in this season.

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