Short-Term Variations in the Vertical Distribution of Atmospheric Ozone at Albuquerque, New Mexico

Abstract

Variations with time in the vertical distribution of ozone during a period of influx of subtropical air associated with a shortwave ridge and a cold middle tropopause are studied in detail by means of a series of ozone soundings taken at intervals varying from 4–6 hr. In the lower stratosphere, the vertical distributions of the partial pressure of O3 were characterized by secondary maxima and minima that could be followed from sounding to sounding. However, a general decrease in the partial pressure of O3 with time took place at nearly all levels in the lower stratosphere as the ridge advanced over the station. The most significant changes in ozone with time were observed in the layer between altitudes of 9 and 18 km. A pronounced minimum in the partial pressure of O3 persisted at the 18.5-km level throughout the entire period of observations. Such a minimum may he formed when a thin, upper layer of the cold tongue of subtropical air associated with the quasi-permanent, longwave pressure system is left undisturbed as the lower part of the cold tongue is being replaced by ozone-rich polar air associated with a shortwave trough moving through the longwave system. The minimum formed in this way may persist for a long time if not modified by either a significant change in the longwave pressure pattern or by a shortwave disturbance that reaches to an altitude greater than that of the minimum.