Abstract
Results from an analysis of data obtained by means of the chemiluminescent ozone sonde in a series of observations at various stations in North America indicate that the vertical distribution of ozone is closely related to the thermal properties of the air masses through which the sounding is taken. Significant changes in temperature lapse rate or in the wind field frequently are associated with correspondingly significant changes in partial pressure of ozone. When the tropical high-level tropopause overlaps the extratropical tropopause, the ozone sounding frequently appears to be a composite of the upper part of a typical tropical sounding and the lower part of a typical middle-latitude sounding extending through the extratropical tropopause. Preliminary results are presented showing a comparison of the seasonal variation of the ratio Q1/Q2 of the amount of ozone in a lower layer of the atmosphere (300 to 100 mb) to that in an upper layer (100 to 40 mb) with the seasonal variation of the tropical-extratropical tropopause structure as indicated by monthly mean temperature soundings. It is shown that for selected stations at different latitudes the variation in the ratio Q1/Q2 is related to the variation in thickness of the layer of polar stratospheric air that intrudes into the subtropical troposphere.
Published Version
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