The relationship of total atmospheric ozone to the sunspot cycle

Abstract

For the 27-year period 1933–1959 inclusive, highly significant negative correlation is found between the relative sunspot number and the worldwide average of total atmospheric ozone. Peak correlation with respect to the present-day 10-year sunspot cycle is found at a lag of 1½ to 2 years of the sunspots relative to ozone. The peak correlation of total atmospheric ozone with the mean latitudinal distance from the solar equator of the total area of sunspots is almost identical in magnitude to that with sunspot number. However, the peak correlation with sunspot latitude is found at a lag of less than 6 months of the ozone relative to sunspot latitude, in the opposite direction to that with sunspot number. This phase difference of the negative correlation suggests that atmospheric ozone is much more sensitive to sunspot latitude than to sunspot number.