Actual trajectories of two PPB's which flew in the Antarctic stratosphere in austral summer and spring are compared with those calculated based on objective analysis data of Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The differences between the actual and calculated trajectories are discussed to check reliability of the JMA objective analysis data for the stratosphere, and to detect subsynoptic scale variability due to gravity waves and others

Fujii, Ryoichi

Kanzawa, Hiroshi

Yamanaka, Manabu D.

Yamazaki, Koji

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

N95- 11047
TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS OF POLAR PATROL BALLOON (PPB) FLIGHTS
IN THE STRATOSPHERE OVER ANTARCTICA IN SUMMER AND SPRING:
A PRELIMINARY RESULT
Hiroshi Kanzawa
National Institute of Polar Research
1-9-10 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173, Japan
Ryoichi Fujii
National Institute of Polar Research
1-9-10 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173, Japan
Present affiliation: Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University
Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464, Japan)
Koji Yamazaki
Meteorological Research Institute
1-1 Nagamine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan
M anabu D. Yamanaka
Radio Atmospheric Science Center, Kyoto University
Uji, Kyoto 611, Japan
ABSTRACT
Actual trajectories of two PPBs which flew in the
Antarctic stratosphere in austral summer and spring are com-
pared with those calculated based on objective analysis data of
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The differences between
the actual and calculated trajectories are discussed to check reli-
ability of the JMA objective analysis data for the stratosphere,
and to detect sub-synoptic scale variability due to gravity
waves and others.
1. INTRODUCTION
The Polar Patrol Balloon (PPB) project is to execute a
long duration circumpolar balloon experiment in the Antarctic
using a zero-pressure balloon with an auto-ballast control to
keep it at an almost constant pressure level in the stratosphere.
The PPB project has been developed under cooperation be-
tween the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)
and the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR): See, e.g.,
Nagata et al. (1985), Nishimura et al. (1985), Yamanaka et al.
(1988), Fujii etal. (1989), Kadokura etal. (1991), and Ejiri et
al. (1993). The planning of the observation using the PPB has
been concretely discussed by the PPB Working Group chaired
by N. Yajima (1SAS) and co-chaired by M. Ejiri (NIPR),
whose members include H.K., R.F., and M.D.Y.
Actual trajectories of two PPBs launched from Syowa
Station (69.01*S, 39.59"E), having flown in the Antarctic
stratosphere in austral summer and spring, are compared with
those calculated from objective analysis data of the Japan
Meteorological Agency. The motivation is to check reliability
of the JMA objective analysis data, being intended to describe
planetary and synoptic scale phenomena, for the stratosphere,
and/or to detect sub-synoptic scale variability due to gravity
waves and others.
QAI_NAL PA_-_ I_
OF ImO Quaz.r 
6oh
2. DATA AND METFK_ OF ANALYSIS
The horizontal positions of the balloon are obtained
using the ARGOS location system about 20 times a day with
accuracy of 10-20 kin. The vertical positions of the balloon ate
obtained from a pressure sensor data on board the PPB using
the ARGOS data collection system about every a few minm
over a period of about 10-15 minutes, 25-30 times a day.
The calculated trajectory is obtained from wind data tm
the basis of objective analysis of JMA with time resoluti(m of
12 hours and with horizontal resolution of 1.875 degrees far
both latitude and longitude on the stratospheric levels of 100,
70, 50, 30, 20, 10 hPa. The objective analysis scheme is de-
scribed, e.g., by JMA (1990): Geopotential height and tem-
perature above 70 hPa level are analyzed from observational
data using two-dimensional least squares fitting method, wi_
zonal wavenumber truncation at wavenumbers 6 to 8 and wi_
latitude resolutions of 10 degrees. The JMA stratospheric
analysis, thus, represents scales larger than synoptic scale.
The winds are calculated from geopotential height data
of JMA objective analysis on the assumption of "balance
winds", which gives better estimate for winds than that of
geostrophic winds by taking account of local wind curvature
effects (Randel, 1987). The "balance winds" adopted in the
present study are found to estimate the actual trajectory better
than the conventionally used geostrophic winds. The winds
are linearly interpolated in space to the position of the PPB,
and in time at the time interval of 0.5 hours (30 minutes). Tlte
calculated trajectory is obtained by advection of the winds f_m
an initial position of the actual PPB, following the method de-
scribed in Yamazaki (1987) and Yamazaki et al. (_989).
dependence of the trajectory on the initial positions is not m
strong _...cording to the trajectory calc_
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950004634 2020-06-16T11:31:03+00:00Z
90W
60S
70S 26 Dec SYOWA
80S
90E
Fig. 1. Actual trajectory of the
PPB (O) versus calculated
trajectory (A) in the middle
stratosphere in austral sum-
mer. Stereographic projec-
tion. The data are plotted
twice daily (00 UT, 12 UT).
The dates assigned to the no-
tation • means respectively
the data of the PPB position
at 12 UT on the dates. The
calculated trajectory starts
from the initial position of the
PPB at 12 UT on 25
December 1990 (69.47"S,
38.00"E, 14.0 hPa). It is
obtained on the assumption
that the air parcel moves by
the balance winds from the
JMA objective analysis, tak-
ing account of the change of
the pressure level of the PPB
as shown in Fig. 2.
180
3. SUMMER FLIGHT IN DECEMBER 1990
JANUARY 1991 IN THE MIDDLE STRATOSPHERE
As shown in Fig. 1, a balloon for observation of mag-
netic field was launched at 08:25 UT on 25 December 1990,
and directed westward around the 10-20 hPa level (-31 km) to
come back to Syowa Station on 9 January 1991 about 15 days
after the launch. It moved more westward in the stratosphere
to reach about 65"S, 135"W on 19 January after about one and
a half round flight, and at last dropped to the Indian Ocean
around 31 January.
Figure 2 shows time variation of pressure level of the
PPB at the time interval of 0.5 days (12 hours). The PPB flew
between 10 hPa and 18 hPa levels in the middle stratosphere
until about day 20 in Fig. 2 (12 UT 14 January 1991). The up
and down motion of the PPB is due to using the zero-pressure
balloon: It releases helium gas during sunshine, and its level is
kept by an auto-ballast system. Around day 25 (19 January
1991), the balloon dropped into the troposphere after consum-
ing the ballast.
The actual trajectory of the PPB in the stratosphere for
the round flight till 9 January 1991 is compared with the calcu-
l=led trajectory in Fig. 1. The initial position for the calculation
is the actual position of the PPB at 12 UT on 25 December
1990; 69.47°S, 38.00"E, 14.0 hPa. The wind data being in-
terpolated on the actual pressure level of the PPB at each time
step of 05-hour interval are used for the calculation: The calcu-
lalcd trajcc.mt 7 for d=i,, _ c(mmkt¢_ the variation of pressure
level of tk¢ PPB _ in Fig. 2.
6O7
Dec 90 Jan 91
25 31 5 10 15
35t .... ' .... ' .... ' .... ' .... 1t
IJ
3O
_ 25
_ 2o
15
10
0 5 10 15 20 25
DAYS (0=12UT 25 Dee 90)
Fig. 2. Time variation of pressure level of the PPB for the
summer flight. Time in abscissa is in unit of day after 12
UT on 25 December 1990. The data are plotted at an inter-
val of half a day. Calendar dates of December 1990 and
January 1991 are assigned at the top abscissa.
QIIIQINA_ PAGE m
90W
60S
:: .:;!
01:47 •
26 13:15
180
01:59
The actual trajectory fairly well coincides with the
calculated one. This confirms that the wind flow has little
variability in time and space in the summer stratosphere over
Antarctica, as has been anticipated from a lot of consideration
on the basis of observation and theory of planetary and
synoptic scale flow in the stratosphere. The smoothness of the
actual trajectory of the PPB itself suggests that planetary scale
flow is dominant in comparison with synoptic and sub-
synoptic scale one. The situation of the stratosphere is
different from that of the troposphere as shown in super-
pressure balloon experiments in the southern hemisphere
troposphere, e.g., of GHOST (Lally and Lichfield, 1969) and
EOLE (Morel and Bandeen, 1973), in which synoptic scale
motions are dominant in the trajectories. The close agreement
between the observed and calculated trajectories indicates also
that the JMA objective analysis is highly reliable for expressing
the actual wind of planetary and synoptic scale in the Antarctic
summer stratosphere: But note that the wind speeds of the JMA
objective analysis are somewhat smaller than the actual wind
speeds. The small difference is considered to come from small
scale variability due to gravity waves and others or from
inability for the JMA objective analysis to well express the
synoptic scale flow.
4. SPRING FLIGHT IN SEPTEMBER 1991 IN THE
I£)WER STRATOSPHERE
As shown in Fig. 3, another balloon for observation of
23
_2_400:23
!4 12:2,1
22:37 _
/
./
.,
90E
Fig. 3. Actual mO_'mry _ 01e
PPB (@) venus c_cml_l
trajectory (A) in the lowclr
stratosphere in austral spring.
Stereographic projection. All
of the obtained ARGOS po-
sitioning data of the PPB arc
plotted with asterisks. The
data whose rime are nearest to
00 UT and 12 UT on e=,-h
day among the obtained data
are plotted with the notatioe
@ to which the dates tad
times are assigned. The cal-
culated trajectory starts frtn
the initial position of the
at 12 UT on 23 September
1991 (69.25"S, 45.15"E, g0
hPa). It is obtained on the
tentative assumption that the
air parcel moves by the I_l-
ance winds at the 80 hPa
level from the JMA objective
analysis, i.e., taking no _'-
count of the change of the
pressure level of the PPB.
The positions are plotted
twice d_ (00 trr. 12 trD.
September 1991
23 ,24 ,25 ,26 ,27 12890 ...I .... I.... I.... t.... l, ..
608
80
A
Ill
g¢ 70
03
uJ
Ix
a. 60
R
g
t
t
4
50 • . , , , i i | . • • , ..... i . | , . . i ..... i t .
0 1440 2880 4320 5760 7200
TIME (min; O--08UT 23 Sep 91)
Fig. 4. Time v_-i_ioa of l_'t_ lintel d tl_ PI_ I_' I_
spring flight. Tune in _ is in umit e_ mimm_ alt_r 0g
UT on 23 September 1992; note that 1440 minutes is a day,
and intervals of 240 minutes (4 hours) are marked.
Calendar dates of S¢l_mbct 1991 am u_cd at the
ab=ci=m.
OAI,_NAI. PA_
C',rPClO tytUKJW
ozone and aeroml was latmciwd from Syowa Station at 07:55
UT on 23 September 1991, directed eastward around the 80
hPa level (-16 km) in the lower stratosphere in the inside of the
polar vortex, i.e., inside of the ozone hole, for about 5 days to
reach around 80"S, 250°E (110"W) around 02 UT on 28
September after about three-fourth round flight in the strato-
sphere, and dropped to the Ross Ice Shelf at the earth's surface
around 85"S, 200"E (160"W) around 20 UT on 28 September.
The plan of the experiment is described in Kanzawa and
Kondo (1991), and the results of the ozone and aerosol mea-
surements _ presented by Hayashi et al. (1992) in the present
issue.
Figure 4 shows time variation of pressure level of the
PPB at the time interval of 4 minutes. The PPB flew between
60 hPa and 83 hPa levels in the lower stratosphere until 6960
minutes in the time axis (--04 UT on 28 September 1992).
The actual trajectory of the PPB in the stratosphere is
compared with the calculated trajectory in Fig. 3. The initial
position for the calculation is the actual position of the PPB at
12 UT on 23 September 1991; 69.25°S, 45.15"E, 80 hPa.
The balloon is assumed to be on the constant pressure level of
80 hPa: The calculated trajectory for this case does not consider
the variation of pressure level of the PPB shown in Fig. 4. We
will try the same way as the summer case in near future, i.e,
taking account of the variation of pressure level of the PPB.
The result may not, however, change so much although the
vertical gradients of horizontal winds are considered to give
tome effects.
Latitudinal difference of both trajectories is larger in
spring than in summer: The calculated trajectory is, in general,
poleward of the actual one. The JMA wind speed is somewhat
larger than the actual one. For example, at the time of 12 UT
on 24 September, the calculated position is about half a day
forward of the actual one. The forwardness may bring about
the poleward position in calculation.
5. CONCLUDING REMARKS
For summer case, the JMA objective analysis is highly
reliable, and the JMA wind speed is somewhat smaller than the
actual one. For spring case, the JMA objective analysis is reli-
able, and the JMA wind speed is larger than the actual one.
Latitudinal difference of the trajectory is larger in spring than in
_mmer. The differences for both cases are considered to be
due to sub-synoptic scale motion (e.g., gravity waves) or in-
ability of the JMA analysis to well express synoptic scale mo-
tion. The next step to distinguish the cause for the differences
is to calculate trajectories using the actual positioning data of
the PPB at each time step as initial positions, and to compare
the trajectories with the actual one at each time step.
Acknowledgments: H. Akiyama and S. Ohta (ISAS) pro-
vided technical assistance in developing the PPB technology.
The PPB balloons were launched by most of the members of
the 32nd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, whose
summer party was led by S. Kokubun and inchuied H.
Akiyama u am exp_ o( the balloon launch experiment, and
whose winter, in I party was led by Y. Fujii tnd included R.F.
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Trajectory analysis of Polar Patrol Balloon (PPB) flights in the stratosphere over Antarctica in summer and spring: A preliminary result

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