Temperature tele‐connections between the tropical and polar middle atmosphere in the Southern Hemisphere during the 2010 minor sudden stratospheric warming

Abstract

Abstract Southern Hemispheric (SH) sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) are relatively rare compared to their Northern Hemisphere counterparts. No study has so far investigated the impacts of the SH minor SSWs on the tropical atmosphere and connection between the tropical and polar atmospheres. Here, we analyze the MERRA‐2 and ERA‐interim datasets, and Microwave Limb Sounder satellite temperature measurements to investigate the tropical and polar atmosphere tele‐connections during the SH minor SSW that occurred in 2010. Our analysis shows the strong anti‐correlation between the polar and tropical temperatures during the 2010 minor SSW in the stratosphere and mesosphere. This is the first observational study over the SH that reveals the tele‐connection between the tropical and polar middle atmospheres through the temperature during a minor SSW. We verified this tele‐connection, using simulations of the Ground‐to‐topside model of Atmosphere and Ionosphere for Aeronomy (GAIA) model during the 2010 minor SSW. GAIA model simulations show the temperature anti‐correlation between the tropical and polar middle atmosphere and zonal wind variations. The feature of meridional circulation changes was also observed during the SSW period. Hence, the present study strongly suggests that even minor SSW in the SH can affect the meridional circulation in the middle atmosphere via planetary wave activity.