Analysis of Wind Vertical Component Characteristics in the Stratosphere

S. A. Beresnev, V. I. Gryazin, and K. G. Gribanov

Height, time, and latitude dependences are analyzed of zonal mean vertical component of wind velocity for the period of 1992–2006 from the UKMO atmospheric general circulation model. It is shown that the ascending wind speed can provide vertical transport, against gravity, of rather large (up to 3–5μm) aerosol particles with density to 1.0–1.5 g/cm3 in the stratosphere and mesosphere. The wind velocity vertical component is supposedly a significant factor of particle motion up to 30–40-km levels and can affect sedimentation rate and residence time of the aerosol particles in the stratosphere. Structure of the mean vertical component of wind velocity allows occurrence of dynamically stable aerosol layers in the middle stratosphere.