Temperature feedback in a stratospheric model

Abstract

Perturbing the stratospheric composition affects the stratospheric temperature profile via the radiation balance. Changes in temperature affect chemical reaction rates, which in turn feed back on stratospheric composition. The effect of temperature feedback on ozone concentration has been investigated for three types of perturbations: (1) stratospheric injection of NOx, (2) release of fluorocarbons, and (3) doubling CO2. Temperature feedback had approximately a 10% restoring effect on ozone for small ozone reductions because of either stratospheric NOx injection or release of fluorocarbons. Doubling CO2 concentrations increased total ozone by 2.9%. Calculations of ozone reduction including temperature feedback were as much as 20% less than fixed temperature calculations using the U.S. Standard Atmosphere temperature profile.