On the Accuracy of Stratospheric Meteorological Reanalyses Using Wind Measurements at High Altitude in the Stratosphere

Nathalie Huret (1) , F. Duruisseau (1) , A. Andral (2)

1 LPC2E - Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace
2 CNES - Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse]

This study is motivated by the improvement of the knowledge of stratospheric dynamics and the evaluation of the ability of models to represent wind variability in the stratosphere. We deduce from the Zero Pressure Balloons trajectories, operated by CNES during the last decade, zonal and meridional wind to provide a unique database in the altitude range [25-40] km. The collected data are associated with ZBP flights launch during winter and summer in polar region above the Esrange (Sweden) launch base and in equatorial region above the Teresina (Brazil) during easterly and westerly Quasibiennal Oscillation phase. We performed systematic comparisons between wind measurements and ERA—interim reanalysis from ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) and present the vertical profile of biases for both wind component in winter at high latitude. The biases and the standard deviation obtained increase with altitude.

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]

Nathalie Huret, F. Duruisseau, A. Andral. On the Accuracy of Stratospheric Meteorological Reanalyses Using Wind Measurements at High Altitude in the Stratosphere. Proceedings of the 22nd ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon Programmes and Related Research, Jun 2015, Noordwijk, Norway. pp.273. ⟨insu-03577051⟩