This suite of IDL programs provides identification and comprehensive characterization of the dynamical features of the jet streams in the upper troposphere, the lower stratospheric polar night jet, and the tropopause. The output of this software not only provides comprehensive information on the jets and tropopause, but also gives this information in a form that facilitates studies of observations in relation to the jets and tropopauses.
The programs use data from gridded meteorological analyses (including, currently, GEOS-5/MERRA and NCEP/GFS, but are designed to easily adapt to others) to identify the locations and characteristics (wind speed, temperature, wind components, potential vorticity, equivalent latitude, potential temperature, relative vorticity, and other fields) at the jet maximum and the edges of the jet regions. It also compiles detailed tropopause information based on several commonly used definitions of the tropopause, including cataloging times/ locations with multiple tropo pauses. These products are calculated for the complete gridded meteorological data sets, and the differences between jet locations/characteristics and measurement locations/characteristics cataloged for several satellite (currently, Aura MLS, ACE, and HIRDLS) and aircraft (currently START-08, Winter Storms, SPURT) datasets.
These products are currently being used in studies compiling jet and tropopause climatologies, and to characterize trace gas observations in relation to the jets and tropopauses. The output products will be made available to other collaborators, and eventually will be publicly available.
This work was done by Gloria L. Manney and William H. Daffer of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Daniel Broderick of the California Institute of Technology at
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Jet and Tropopause Products for Analysis and Characterization (JETPAC)
(reference NPO-47709) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) focused on the Jet And Tropopause Products for Analysis and Characterization (JETPAC). It outlines the development and application of a framework for analyzing upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric jets (UTJs) using satellite and aircraft trace gas data. The primary aim is to enhance understanding of transport and mixing processes in the extra-tropical tropopause region.
Key highlights include the characterization of jets in relation to the tropopause, which is crucial for understanding stratospheric and tropospheric interactions. The document discusses the use of MLS (Microwave Limb Sounder) data to identify stratospheric intrusions and their implications for atmospheric dynamics. It emphasizes the importance of mapping trace gas measurements in jet coordinates to facilitate comparisons and combined studies, particularly in the context of significant meteorological events like winter storms.
The analysis presented in the document is supported by contributions from various research teams, including NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) and the Aura Science Team. The document also acknowledges the collaborative efforts of scientists from institutions such as the University of Toronto and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
The document outlines a simple scheme developed for identifying and characterizing UTJs, which is essential for understanding their role in stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) and the transport of trace gases. It highlights the capability of MLS data to capture stratospheric and tropospheric intrusions, despite the limitations of coarse resolution.
In summary, the JETPAC Technical Support Package serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers and practitioners interested in atmospheric science, particularly in the dynamics of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. It provides insights into the methodologies for analyzing jet characteristics and their implications for atmospheric transport processes, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of weather patterns and climate dynamics. The document is a valuable asset for those engaged in aerospace-related developments and research in the field of atmospheric sciences.
