Project Details
Projekt
Solar variability Impacts on the chemical Composition of the Middle Atmosphere: measurements and model predictions (SICMA III)
Applicant
Dr. Miriam Sinnhuber
Subject Area
Atmospheric Science
Term
from 2005 to 2012
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5455004
The goal of this project is to investigate the impact of solar variability on the chemical composition of the mesosphere and stratosphere using a suitable set of atmospheric models together with measurements for model validation to address the following questions:1) Do we understand chemical and ion-chemistry processes during large solar particle events,2) what is the long-term impact of these processes onto the chemical composition of the middle atmosphere, especially onto the stratospheric NOx and ozone budget, and 3) how does this compare to other solar variability effects like galactic cosmic rays, solar radiation variability, and downwelling of thermospheric NOx ? To address these issues, our existing ionchemistry model of the middle atmosphere as well as global three-dimensional and two-dimensional chemistry and transport models of the stratosphere and mesosphere will be improved. Model experiments will be carried out covering periods of very large solar particle events in a changing atmosphere as well as long periods of at least one solar cycle.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
