Abstract
We studied the effects of the stationary and transient transport of ozone in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) on the ozone valley over the Tibetan Plateau (OVTP) in summer using the daily ERA-Interim reanalysis dataset for the time period 1979–2016. We used the Lorenz circulation decomposition method to separate the stationary and transient transport of ozone into terms related to either the mean flow or eddies. The decrease in the total ozone concentration in summer is associated with the transport of ozone, which, in turn, reinforces the OVTP. The zonal (meridional) transport of ozone, which combines stationary and transient transport, strengthens (weakens) the ozone valley. The stationary zonal (meridional) transport of ozone strengthens (weakens) the ozone valley. The transient zonal (meridional) transport of ozone weakens (strengthens) the ozone valley, but this effect is weaker than that of stationary transport. The mean flow has the dominant role, especially in the stationary component. The effect of eddies on the zonal transient transport of ozone is as strong as that of the mean flow. For stationary transport, the zonal deviation of ozone transported by the zonal mean flow in the zonal (meridional) direction C(O3∗¯ [u]¯)(C(O3∗¯ [v]¯)) dominates total zonal (meridional) change of ozone C(O3¯ u¯)(C(O3¯ v¯)), which strengthens (weakens) the ozone valley. The transient transport of the zonal mean ozone by eddies (C([O3]′u∗′¯)), the zonal deviation of ozone by the zonal mean flow (C(O3∗′[u]′¯)) and the zonal deviation of ozone by eddies (C(O3∗′u∗′¯)) all have a strong effect on the ozone valley. By contrast, the transient transport of the zonal mean ozone by eddies in the meridional direction (C([O3]′v∗′¯)) has a much weaker and the smallest effect. Both the zonal deviation of ozone by the zonal mean flow and by eddies in the meridional direction (C(O3∗′[v]′¯) and C(O3∗′v∗′¯)) have major roles in transient meridional transport, but their roles are the opposite of each other. The contributions of stationary and transient transport to zonal transport are consistent, whereas their contributions to meridional transport are the opposite of each other. The influence of transient transport on the formation and maintenance of OVTP is not negligible.
Highlights
Ozone is an important topic in atmospheric research (Cong et al, 2001)
This study focuses on the climate characteristics of the two types of ozone transport over the Tibetan Plateau
This study focused on the climate characteristics of the stationary and transient transport of ozone and their effects on the OVTP in the UTLS region in summer using the ERA-Interim dataset and Lorenz decomposition of the atmospheric circulation
Summary
Ozone is an important topic in atmospheric research (Cong et al, 2001). The ozone layer in the stratosphere has an important role in the thermal structure of the atmosphere (Andrews et al, 1987) because it absorbs ultraviolet radiation, modifying the thermal and dynamic structure of the atmosphere (Kerr et al, 1993; Lubin and Jensen, 1995; IPCC, 2007; Chipperfield et al, 2015; Xie et al, 2018). Since the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole in 1984 (Farman et al, 1985), the depletion of stratospheric ozone and its impact on the Earth’s climate have attracted concern worldwide (Solomon, 1999; Zhou and Zhang, 2005; Crutzen and Oppenheimer, 2008; Tobo et al, 2008; Karpechko et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2014; Hu et al, 2015; Zhang et al, 2019). Strong ozone depletion occurs over the Tibetan Plateau (Reiter and Gao, 1982; Hingane, 1990). The unique topography of the Tibetan Plateau means that the dynamic and thermal properties of ozone in this region are different from those in the surrounding atmosphere, which has a significant impact on the Earth’s climate (Zhang and Chen, 2005; Wang et al, 2006; Wang et al, 2007). The unique topography of the Tibetan Plateau means that the dynamic and thermal properties of ozone in this region are different from those in the surrounding atmosphere, which has a significant impact on the Earth’s climate (Zhang and Chen, 2005; Wang et al, 2006; Wang et al, 2007). Reiter and Gao (1982) found that a center of relatively low total ozone concentrations appears over the Tibetan Plateau when the South Asian High (SAH) moves over the plateau and is maintained in mid-April
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