Dynamics of diabatically forced anticyclonic plumes in the stratosphere

A new class of vortices has been observed in the stratosphere following extreme wildfires (Canada 2017, Australia 2020) and volcanic eruptions (Raikoke 2019). These vortices are long-lived mesoscale anticyclones (hundreds to 1,000 km in diameter) trapping plumes of aerosols and combustion/volcanic compounds. Owing to their unusual composition, these anticyclonically trapped plumes (ATPs) are associated with a significant radiative heating, which fuels their ascent through the stratosphere. This article investigates the dynamics of ATPs using two complementary approaches: analytically, in a potential vorticity (PV) perspective, and through idealised numerical simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. In both cases, we consider the vortical flow forced by a heating Lagrangian tracer. By reformulating the problem in the potential radius-potential temperature coordinate system introduced for tropical cyclones, we first clarify that ATP formation is concomitant with the injection of air into the stratosphere at extratropical latitudes. Then, we derive a set of simplified one-dimensional equations describing the subsequent evolution of the flow after the injection. The equation obtained for the tracer is a variant of the classical Burgers' equation. In qualitative agreement with the three-dimensional WRF simulations, this theoretical model predicts that ATPs develop an upper tracer front associated with sustained near-zero anticyclonic PV, followed by a smooth tracer tail of cyclonic PV. Radiative relaxation of the temperature perturbations induced by the anticyclone and the presence of an initial PV anomaly tend to stabilise ATPs during their ascent. Finally, we note that the theory predicts a similar relationship between the plume and anticyclonic PV for cooled ATPs, which is supported by three-dimensional simulations and may apply to the 2022 Hunga volcanic plume. Satellite and reanalysis data have revealed that some stratospheric plumes from extreme wildfires and volcanic eruptions self-organise into mesoscale anticyclones ascending through the stratosphere. Previous research identified radiative heating from sunlight-absorbing aerosols as a key driver of this phenomenon. Here, we use potential vorticity theory and idealised numerical simulations to investigate the flow forced by a heating Lagrangian tracer representing the aerosols. The study provides new insights into the formation, evolution, and maintenance of anticyclonic plumes ascending in the stratosphere. image