The early results from total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) onboard ADEOS

Abstract

The mission of NASA/GSFC's TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) on NASDA's ADEOS is observation of total ozone change, evaluation of changes in ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the observation of sulfur dioxide using observation bands in 308.6, 312.5, 317.5, 322.3, 331.2 and 360.0 nm with 2,795 km swath width. The similar instruments were first flown on Nimbus‐7 in 1978, then installed on Meteor‐3 in 1994, TOMS Earth Probe in 1995 and ADEOS in 1996. Coverage of global ozone was resumed with ADEOS TOMS after a 18 months blank following the stop of Meteor‐3 TOMS in December 1994. The first scientific finding by ADEOS TOMS was the observation of developing Antarctic Ozone Hole on September 11, 1996. Then in the spring of 1997, Arctic ozone depletion was observed. This is unusual phenomenon in recent years, therefore, international research community and meteorological agencies have been intensively conducting research activity on the Arctic ozone depletion. ADEOS TOMS had been providing total ozone change data properly just in the period of ozone depletion development for these researchers to elucidate the mechanism of the Arctic ozone depletion. This paper describes the early results of ADEOS TOMS observations.