Ozone vertical distribution in the troposphere over south regions of Western Siberia

Abstract

Dynamics of the tropospheric ozone vertical distribution over one of the Siberian regions is considered based on the data of long-term atmospheric sensing onboard the “Optik-E”. AN-30 aircraft laboratory with the use of a 3-02P chemiluminescence lidar. Two modes are clearly distinguished in the annual variation of ozone vertical distribution: autumn-winter and spring-summer. The change from the autumn-winter mode to the spring-summer one begins near the Earth’s surface in the end of February and ends in the upper troposphere in the end of April; the change back begins in the upper troposphere in the beginning of September and ends in the midtroposphere in the middle of October. Three clearly pronounced maxima and two minima were fixed in the free troposphere during the period under consideration (1997–2009). Not all of them were reflected in the ground layer, as zones of increased ozone concentrations do not reach the upper troposphere. It is most probable that ozone was generated from compounds transported from other regions, due to changes in circulation processes. Peculiarities of ozone distribution in the ground layer are also considered.