Vol. 19, issue 07, article # 6

Abstract:

Under analysis are lidar measurements of optical characteristics of stratospheric aerosol layer, obtained at midlatitude Siberian Lidar Station of the Institute of Atmospheric Optics SB RAS, Tomsk (56.5°N; 85.0°E) under background conditions for long-term volcanically quiet period (VQP) 1996-2005. The results are compared with earlier observations in Tomsk (since 1986) and observations at other midlatitude stations of the Northern Hemisphere. The background aerosol loading of the stratosphere under conditions of long-term VQP is less than for background period 1989-1990. Variations of integrated content and vertical distribution of aerosol in the midlatitude stratosphere are attributed to changes of stratospheric general circulation through influence of meridional transfers from the tropical belt to mid-latitudes, that supports the hypothesis on the presence of tropical reservoir of not only volcanic, but also background stratospheric aerosol.