Tropospheric ozone climatology over Peninsular Malaysia from 1992 to 1999

Abstract

We present the climatology of tropospheric ozone over Peninsular Malaysia in tropical Asia for the 8 years from 1992 through 1999 as measured by ozonesondes twice a month. The mean ozone concentrations in vertical profile were in the same range (30–40 ppbv) as those observed at Watukosek, Indonesia, and were lower than those at Natal, Brazil, South America, and at Brazzaville, Congo, Africa, indicating that air masses over Peninsular Malaysia are primarily influenced by the maritime environment and deep convection, as shown by the significant levels of water vapor in the middle troposphere throughout the year. Seasonally averaged ozone concentrations were highest in December, January, and February (DJF) from 6 to 7.5 km altitude and in March, April, and May (MAM) at all other heights and were lowest in June, July, and August (JJA) and September, October, and November (SON), excluding 1994 and 1997, at all heights. The ozone enhancements during DJF in the middle troposphere could be caused by depression of the deep convection because of the positive temperature anomaly and negative water vapor anomaly. The ozone enhancements above the middle troposphere (>5 km) in MAM, especially in 1997 and 1998, could be predominantly attributed to photochemical production from enhanced ozone precursor gases of Northern Hemisphere origin, especially biomass burning in continental Southeast Asia. Large ozone enhancements as high as 10–20 Dobson units observed during SON of 1994 and 1997 were associated with large‐scale biomass burnings in Indonesia.