Role of Energetic Electron Precipitation in Shaping Stratospheric Vortex Evolution Following Sudden Stratospheric Warmings

Energetic Electron Precipitation (EEP) has been shown to influence wintertime stratospheric dynamics through the production of NOy species, which subsequently deplete ozone in the wintertime lower mesosphere and upper stratosphere. It has been shown previously that EEP can influence the occurrence probability of sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) where the wintertime stratospheric polar vortex breaks. Here we show that EEP also influences the evolution of the stratospheric polar vortex during and after the SSWs.

These results indicate that incorporating EEP into climate forecast models can potentially enhance the predictability of wintertime stratospheric dynamics and their influence on surface weather patterns. These results highlight the role of EEP in refining seasonal stratospheric and surface weather predictions.