Influence of planetary waves on total ozone column distribution in northern and southern high latitudes

Abstract

Results of a comparative analysis of quasi-stationary planetary wave (QSW) influences on total ozone column (TOC) distribution at 60° N and 60° S latitudes are presented. Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) version 8 total ozone satellite data for years 1979–2003 were used to examine the longitudinal variation of ozone distribution. Three-month averages for each year were used to obtain the spatial distribution and spectral components of the QSW patterns. Long-term changes of QSW characteristics are compared for the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Quasi-stationary wave 1 dominates in the Southern hemisphere (SH) during spring for all analysed years. The amplitude of wave 1 is also largest, although wave 2 reaches a close level in several years in the Northern hemisphere (NH). The maximal TOC disturbances by planetary waves are observed in the winter–spring period both in the NH (January–March) and SH (August–October). During the development of the Antarctic ozone hole (from mid-1980s to the present), the QSW phase at 60° N does not show longitudinal motion observed at 60° S. Both hemispheres show strong inter-annual variability in both position and amplitude of the QSW pattern.