Fifteen years of stratospheric nitrogen dioxide and ozone measurements in Antarctica

Abstract

The stratospheric NO2 and O3 total columns and vertical profiles retrieved from the measurements performed the last 15 years by the GASCOD spectrometer installed at the Mario Zucchelli Antarctic Station (MZS) - 74.69S, 164.12E, are presented here and briefly discussed. The full dataset of the spectral data obtained with GASCOD during the period 1996-2009, was re-analyzed with a modified version of the software tool previously utilized. The uncertainties range from 4% up to 8% for O3 and from 3% tup o 6% for NO2. The peculiar features of the seasonal variation of O3 (i.e. during the 'Ozone Hole' periods (mid-August to mid-October) and NO2 total columns (i.e. the normal decreasing during the austral fall and the irregular growing towards the spring months) are clearly identified. For the first time, the NO2 total columns values, obtained with the GASCOD installed at MZS, are compared with the data obtained with satellite borne equipments (SCIAMACHY, GOME and OMI).