Observed vertical distribution of tropospheric ozone during the Asian summertime monsoon

Abstract

We characterize the horizontal and vertical distribution of tropospheric ozone measured by the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) over North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Studies have shown that the summertime circulation associated with the Asian monsoon significantly influences the spatial distribution of ozone and its precursors. However, there have been limited observations of the distribution of tropospheric ozone over this region. Over the Middle East, TES observations reveal abundances of ozone between 60 and 100 ppbv, with amounts over 80 ppbv typically occurring between 300 and 450 hPa, whereas over India, enhanced ozone abundances are near 300 hPa. Over central Asia, observed ozone amounts are 150–200 ppbv at altitudes near 300 hPa. These enhanced ozone abundances are observed in June and July, corresponding to the onset of the Asian monsoon, and begin to dissipate in August. Intercomparison of the TES data with ozone climatologies derived from the Measurements of Ozone and Water Vapor by in‐Service Airbus Aircraft program show that the TES ozone is biased high by about 15% between 300 and 750 hPa, consistent with prior validation studies. Comparison of the assimilation of TES data into the GEOS‐Chem model with assimilation of data from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) into the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS‐4) model shows consistency in the distribution of ozone. For example, at 7–8 km across North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia the bias between GEOS‐Chem and the assimilated OMI and MLS fields was reduced from 6.8 to 1.4 ppbv following assimilation of the TES data.