Ozone Quasi-biennial Oscillation Research Articles

Quasi-biennial modulation of total ozone distribution from equator to polar regions based on observations

The modulation of total ozone (TOZ) by the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) not only at the equator, but also at subtropics, middle and high latitudes has long been known. As well, a large number of studies have shown seasonal synchronization and interhemispheric asymmetry of QBO effects in the TOZ in extratropical regions. However, the proposed mechanisms of seasonality and asymmetry as a consequence of the interaction of the quasi-biennial and annual cycles are not well understood. A great problem in comparing model simulations with observations and, hence, in verifying theoretical assumptions about the mechanism of extratropical ozone QBO, is the continually changing phase relationship between the annual and quasi-biennial cycles. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that, as is commonly believed, the wind QBO period is not constant, but varies irregularly from one cycle to another. In this study the influence of the QBO of equatorial stratospheric wind on the global distribution of the TOZ has been analyzed using the SBUV Merged Ozone Data Set (MOD). The investigation of the QBO effects in the TOZ in the subtropics, middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres is based on accounting for the seasonal regularities of the wind QBO, which leads to a limited number of only certain combinations of the quasi-biennial and annual cycles that can be realized. The smaller variability serves to clarify the nature of changes in extratropical ozone. A detailed analysis of the TOZ data for 1970–2021 showed that the interannual TOZ variability at subtropics, middle and high latitudes depends on the alternation of wind QBO cycles of different scenarios. The key moments of the TOZ variations are clearly associated with certain points in time during the downward propagation of the easterly and westerly QBO wind regimes and the seasonally dependent QBO circulation produced by them. These results contradict the general view that it is difficult to isolate the effect of QBO on the TOZ in extratropics because of the irregularly varying QBO period, and can be used in comparing simulated and observed extratropical ozone QBO, as well as in long-term forecast of variations in the TOZ distribution.

What Contributes to the Inter‐Annual Variability in Tropical Lower Stratospheric Temperatures?

AbstractThe inter‐annual variability in mid and lower stratospheric temperatures for the period 1984–2019 is decomposed into dynamical and radiative contributions using a radiative calculation perturbed with changes in dynamical heating, trace gases and aerosol optical depth. The temperature timeseries obtained is highly correlated with the de‐seasonalized ERA5 temperature (r2 > 0.6 in the region 15 to 70 hPa, 1992 to 2019–after the Pinatubo volcanic eruption). Ozone and dynamical heating contributions are found to be equally important, with water vapor, stratospheric aerosols, and carbon dioxide playing smaller roles. Prominent aspects of the temperature timeseries are closely reproduced, including the 1991 Pinatubo volcanic eruption, the year‐2000 water vapor drop, and the 2016 Quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) disruption. Below 20 hPa, ozone is primarily controlled by transport and is positively correlated to the upwelling. This ozone‐transport feedback acts to increase the temperature response to a change in upwelling by providing an additional ozone‐induced radiative temperature change. This can be quantified as an enhancement of the dynamical heating of about 20% at 70 hPa. A Principal Oscillation Pattern (POP) analysis is used to estimate the contribution of the ozone QBO (±1 K at 70 hPa). The non‐QBO ozone variability is also shown to be significant. Using the QBO leading POP timeseries as representative of the regular QBO signal, the QBO 2016 disruption is shown to have an anomalously large radiative impact on temperature due to the ozone change ( at 70 hPa).

Anomalous changes of temperature and ozone QBOs in 2015−2017 from radiosonde observation and MERRA-2 reanalysis

Anomalous changes of zonal wind quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in winter 2015−2016 have received close attention. Combining radiosonde and satellite observations and reanalysis data, we investigate anomalous changes in temperature and ozone QBOs from the lower to middle stratosphere. As wind shear direction is reversed due to unexpected changes of zonal wind QBO at about 24−30 km, the shortest cold phase at 21−27 km appears in temperature QBO. This is different from the completely interrupted westward phase in zonal wind QBO, while the longest cold phase above almost 27 km lasts for 2−3 years from 2015 to 2017, owing to the absence of corresponding warm phase. Meridional scale reduction of temperature QBO causes a small temperature anomaly, thus the thermal wind relationship looks seemingly different from that in the other regular QBO cycles. QBO in the ozone mixing ratio anomaly shows a double-peak with inverse phase, and its phase below (above) 30 km is in agreement with (opposite to) the phase of temperature QBO because of different control mechanisms of ozone. Following temperature QBO variation, QBO in the ozone mixing ratio anomaly exhibits a less positive phase at 20−30 km in 2016−2017, and a very long positive phase above 30 km from 2015 to 2017. QBO in total column ozone shows a small peak in winter 2016−2017 since ozone is mainly concentrated at 20 to 30 km. Anomalous changes of temperature and ozone QBOs due to unexpected QBO zonal wind variation can be well-explained according to thermal wind balance and thermodynamic balance.

The role of chemical processes in the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) signal in stratospheric ozone

The stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is known to cause variations in the transport of chemical tracers but the role of chemical processes in modulating their QBO signals remains unclear. Using ozone observations (Stratospheric Water and OzOne Satellite Homogenized, SWOOSH) and a chemical transport model (SLIMCAT), we analyze the role of chemical processes in the QBO impact on stratospheric ozone in the tropics and Northern Hemisphere during winter and early spring over the period 1979–2015. During easterly QBO (EQBO) phases tropical ozone concentrations decrease in the lower stratosphere (40–100 hPa, ~16–23 km) and middle stratosphere (above 15 hPa, ~30 km) but increase in the transition region between 15 and 40 hPa (~23–30 km) compared to westerly (WQBO) phases. Although the contributions of chemical processes to the ozone QBO signal are less than those of dynamical processes, this study highlights their non-negligible role. The negative chemical ozone tendencies in the tropical lower stratosphere, that are attributed to less downward ultraviolet radiation and weaker oxygen photolysis, partially contribute to the negative ozone anomalies at this altitude during EQBO phases, particularly in February and March. In contrast, the negative chemical ozone tendencies related to increased NO2 and stronger NO2-catalyzed ozone loss, which are important in the middle stratosphere, cannot explain the ozone increases in the transition region during EQBO phases, which is mainly caused by the QBO-induced transport of ozone-rich air from above. The positive chemical ozone tendencies in the extratropics during EQBO phases are mainly related to lower temperatures and less active catalytic ozone loss cycles. In addition, reduction in polar stratospheric cloud occurrence associated with the warmer Arctic stratosphere during EQBO phases weakens the heterogeneous chemical processes in the lower stratosphere and decreases chlorine activation, partially contributing to the positive chemical ozone tendency and ozone increases in this region.

Quasi-biennial oscillation of the equatorial total ozone: A seasonal dependence and forecast for 2019–2021

The interannual variability of the total ozone (TOZ) in the equatorial region (5°S – 5°N) has been studied using the satellite daily and monthly data in 1978–2018. The coupling of the equatorial TOZ changes to the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of the zonal wind in the equatorial stratosphere has long been known. However, the detailed analysis of the daily deseasonalized TOZ data over the course of 15 complete wind QBO cycles convincingly showed some new important features of the ozone QBO (ΔTOZ). The key points of the equatorial ΔTOZ variations are clearly linked with the certain time moments during the downward propagation from ~10 to ~70 hPa of the easterly and westerly regimes of the wind QBO. The equatorial ΔTOZ distinctly maximizes when the westerly regime reaches ~70 hPa and the easterly regime appears at ~10 hPa, which occur simultaneously. The times of minima of the equatorial ΔTOZ are less obvious due to the westerly regime appearance at ~10 hPa on the background of the unfinished descent of the easterly regime. Furthermore, the seasonal regularities of the wind QBO causes the seasonal dependence of the ozone QBO in the equatorial region. Maxima of the equatorial ΔTOZ are definitely observed near solstice months (June or December). This result contradicts to the general belief about lack of the seasonal synchronization of the equatorial ozone QBO in contrast to the seasonally synchronized extratropical ozone. However, the coincidence of the equatorial ΔTOZ maxima with solstices and, consequently, their recurrence every 2 or 2.5 years allow a prediction of the equatorial TOZ, based on the long-term forecast of the wind QBO. The ozone QBO forecast for subsequent about two years (2019–2021) is presented.

Partitioning of Ozone Loss Pathways in the Ozone Quasi-biennial Oscillation Simulated by a Chemistry-Climate Model

Ozone loss pathways and their rates in the ozone quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), which is simulated by a chemistry-climate model developed by the Meteorological Research Institute of Japan, are evaluated using an ob- jective pathway analysis program (PAP). The analyzed chemical system contains catalytic cycles caused by NOx , HOx , ClOx , Ox , and BrOx . PAP quantified the rates of all significant catalytic ozone loss cycles, and evaluated the partitioning among these cycles. The QBO amplitude of the sum of all cycles amounts to about 4 and 14 % of the annual mean of the total ozone loss rate at 10 and 20 hPa, respectively. The contribution of catalytic cycles to the QBO of the ozone loss rate is found to be as follows: NOx cycles contribute the largest fraction (50 – 85 %) of the QBO amplitude of the total ozone loss rate; HOx cycles are the second-largest (20 – 30 %) below 30 hPa and the third-largest (about 10 %) above 20 hPa; Ox cycles rank third (5 – 20 %) below 30 hPa and second (about 20 %) above 20 hPa; ClOx cycles rank fourth (5 – 10 %); and BrOx cycles are almost negligible. The relative contribution of the NOx and Ox cycles to the QBO amplitude of ozone loss differs by up to 10 % and 20 %, respectively, from their contribution to the annual mean ozone loss rate. The ozone QBO at 20 hPa is mainly driven by ozone transport, which then alters the ozone loss rate. In contrast, the ozone QBO at 10 hPa is driven chemically by NOx and the temperature dependence of [O]/[O3], which results from the temperature dependence of the reaction O + O2 + M → O3 + M. In addition, the ozone QBO at 10 hPa is influenced by the overhead ozone column, which affects [O]/[O3] (through ozone photolysis) and the ozone production rate (through oxygen photolysis).

Quasi-Biennial Oscillations in Atmospheric Ozone from the Chemistry-Climate Model and Ozone Reanalysis

The quasi-biennial oscillation is the primary mode of variability of the equatorial mean zonal wind in the lower stratosphere, which is characterized by downward propagating easterly and westerly wind regimes from 10 hPa level with a period approximately 28 months. The effects of the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation in zonal winds (SQBO) are not only confined to atmospheric dynamics but also seen in the chemical constituent (trace gases) anomalies such as ozone, water vapor, carbon monoxide and methane in the lower stratosphere. In this study, we examined the SQBO and associated ozone quasi-biennial oscillation (OQBO) using the chemistry-climate model CHASER (MIROC-ESM) simulations and ECMWF ERA-Interim ozone reanalysis for the period 2000-2015. We used lower stratospheric zonal wind from the radiosonde observations and total column ozone (TCO) from Aura Satellite (OMI Instruments) over Singapore to compare the SQBO and OQBO phases with model and reanalysis. The SQBO shows large variations in magnitude and periodicity during the period of study and the amplitude of OQBO also changes in accordance with the westerly (+ve ozone anomaly) and easterly (-ve ozone anomaly) phases of SQBO. During the Westerly phase of Ozone QBO (WQBO) corresponds to average positive total ozone anomaly of ~10 DU and in the Easterly phase of Ozone QBO (EQBO) corresponds to an average negative total ozone anomaly ~−10 DU in the tropical lower stratosphere. Since the SQBO phases were explained by the vertical propagations of Mixed-Ross by Gravity (MRG) waves and Kelvin waves, the correlation of ozone volume mixing ratio with zonal and vertical velocities gives quasi-biennial signals, which indicate the OQBO mechanism more related to dynamical transport than the stratospheric photochemical variations. Since the average amplitude of OQBO phases gives ~+/− 10 DU from the observations during easterly and westerly phases SQBO, we need more research focused on the dynamical transport than the photochemical changes to understand the tropical ozone variability due to the ozone quasi-biennial oscillations.

Future Changes in the Ozone Quasi-Biennial Oscillation with Increasing GHGs and Ozone Recovery in CCMI Simulations

The future quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in ozone in the equatorial stratosphere is examined by analyzing transient climate simulations due to increasing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and decreasing ozone-depleting substances under the auspices of the Chemistry–Climate Model Initiative. The future (1960–2100) and historical (1979–2010) simulations are conducted with the Meteorological Research Institute Earth System Model. Three climate periods, 1960–85 (past), 1990–2020 (present), and 2040–70 (future) are selected, corresponding to the periods before, during, and after ozone depletion. The future ozone QBO is characterized by increases in amplitude by 15%–30% at 5–10 hPa and decreases by 20%–30% at 40 hPa, compared with the past and present climates; the future and present ozone QBOs increase in amplitude by up to 60% at 70 hPa, compared with the past climate. The increased amplitude at 5–10 hPa suggests that the temperature-dependent photochemistry plays an important role in the enhanced future ozone QBO. The weakening of vertical shear in the zonal wind QBO is responsible for the decreased amplitude at 40 hPa in the future ozone QBO. An interesting finding is that the weakened zonal wind QBO in the lowermost tropical stratosphere is accompanied by amplified QBOs in ozone, vertical velocity, and temperature. Further study is needed to elucidate the causality of amplification about the ozone and temperature QBOs under climate change in conditions of zonal wind QBO weakening.

Regional specific features and temporal evolution of the quasi-biennial oscillation of total ozone (TO) in the atmosphere

This work presents results of the research on features of quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of total ozone content over the North Tien-Shan based on 35 year old (1980-2015) experimental database of Issyk-Kul high mountain monitoring station (lat. 42.62; long. 76.98; 1640 m.a.s.l.). It has been established that regional specific features and temporal evolution of QBO in total ozone (TO) are largely defined by interrelation - synchronizations of quasi-biennial and annual (seasonal) variations.

Quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of tropical total ozone under alternative QBO scenarios of equatorial stratospheric wind

Equatorial total column ozone variations with quasi-biennial periodicity are described by paying attention to their coupling with the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of zonal wind in equatorial stratosphere. Analysis is made for the 35-year time interval from 1978 to 2013 using the zonal mean total ozone (TOZ) data in latitude band from 5° S to 5° N derived from satellite measurements by means of Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). The study was performed using strong seasonal regularities of the wind QBO and the discrete variation of the QBO-period revealed earlier. The forecast of the wind QBO evolution made in Gabis (2012) is fully justified. The comparison between predicted and actually observed changes of the height wind structure shows the prominent accordance, which confirms the forecast validity. It is shown that variations of deseasonalized TOZ are in strong coupling with changes of equatorial wind QBO that coincides with the numerous previous researches. However our results contradict the assumption about quite complicated ozone response in the equatorial region due to continuously varying with time relationship between annual and quasi-biennial cycles and irregularly variable wind QBO-period. The total ozone changes actually observed clearly corresponds to the mean ozone variations calculated for different QBO scenarios and aligned according to the sequence of QBO scenarios already occurred in fact. This close association indicates the possibility of forecasting the equatorial total ozone QBO based on the predicted wind QBO.

Simultaneous observations of SAO and QBO in winds, temperature and ozone in the tropical middle atmosphere over Thumba (8.5°N, 77°E)

Owing to the importance of middle atmosphere, recently, a Middle Atmospheric Dynamics (MIDAS) program was carried out during the period 2002–2007 at Thumba (8.5°N, 77°E). The measurements under this program, involving regular radiosonde/rocket flights as well as atmospheric radars, provided long period observations of winds and temperature in the middle atmospheric region from which waves and oscillations as well as their forcing mechanisms particularly in the low-latitude middle atmosphere could be analyzed. However, a detailed analysis of the forcing mechanisms remains incomplete due to the lack of important measurements like ozone which is a significant contributor to atmospheric dynamics. Presently, profiles of ozone are available from TIMED/SABER (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broad Emission Radiometry) satellite globally from about 15 to 100 km, over multiple years since 2002. In this regard, a comprehensive study has been carried out on ozone and its variability at Quasi Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and Semiannual Oscillation (SAO) scales using TIMED/SABER ozone observations during the MIDAS campaign period. Before using the TIMED/SABER ozone measurements, an inter-comparison has been carried out with in situ measurements of ozone obtained under the Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozonesondes (SHADOZ) campaign for the year 2007 at few stations. The inter-comparison showed very good agreement between SABER and ozonesonde derived ozone profiles. After validating the SABER observations, ozone profiles are used extensively to study the QBO and SAO along with temperature and winds in the 20–100 km height region. It is known that the SAO in mesosphere and stratosphere are in opposite phases, but the present study for the first time reports the aspect of opposite phases in the mesosphere itself. Thus, the present work attempts to study the long-period oscillations in stratosphere and mesosphere in ozone, temperature and winds simultaneously for the first time over this latitude. These observations provided a unique opportunity to explore long-period oscillations in chemistry, dynamics and thermal structure of the middle atmosphere simultaneously.

An investigation of long-term variability of ozone 3-dimensional fields in the tropics connected with the 11-year solar cycle and peculiarities of the general atmospheric circulation

In this study, the long-term features of 3-dimensional ozone fields in the tropics (30° S– 30° N) over the 25-year period (1979–2003) based on the solar backscatter ultraviolet (SBUV) version 8 satellite observations were analysed. The application of the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) decomposition allows characteristic spatial and temporal patterns to be identified in fields of partial ozone pressure anomalies, which are closely related to the natural causes such as the 11-year solar cycle, the Quasi Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and the Quasi Biennial Oscillation and an Annual Beat (QBO-AB). Also the vertical structure of the ozone QBO at the equator was investigated in comparison with the vertical structure of the zonal wind QBO. The analysis of the SBUV ozone data showed that the phase of the ozone QBO at the equator remains constant within the layer 10–50 hPa.

Interrelation between QBO and 11-year solar cycle effects in total column ozone over Europe

On the basis of total column ozone (TO) data obtained in the period of 1957–2007 at 10 ground-based European stations, characterized by long and highly reliable measurements, the effects of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and 11-year solar cycle (11-year SC), manifesting in TO are investigated. The results of comparative analysis of seasonal differences between different QBO/solar extremes convincingly demonstrate interrelation between the QBO and 11-year SC effects. It is shown that solar activity modulates the phase of the QBO effect so that the quasi-biennial TO signals during solar maximum and solar minimum are nearly in opposite phase. It is also demonstrated that isolated under permanent conditions of solar minimum or solar maximum the QBO effects in TO have the time scale of about 20 months. Solar modulation of the QBO effect makes the QBO a conductor of the solar cycle impact on TO over Europe. The mechanism of influence of the 11-year SC on the QBO and probably includes its impact on the QBO amplitude in the equatorial lower stratosphere, mainly through weakening of the equatorial easterlies during solar maximum.

Quasi-biennial oscillation in ozone and temperature over tropics

Spatiotemporal variations of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in temperature and ozone over the tropical–subtropical belts (40°N–40°S) have been studied using Microwave Limb Sounder data for the period 1992–1999. Wavelet analysis has been performed to study inter-annual variations in amplitude and phases of the QBO. Latitude-height cross-sections of the amplitudes of temperature and ozone QBO exhibit a double-peak structure near the equator. Phase structure reveals that the temperature QBO descended faster than the ozone QBO. Cross-wavelet analysis shows an anti-phase relation between the amplitudes of the temperature and ozone QBO in the upper stratospheric region, whereas in-phase relation exists in the middle stratospheric region.

Spatiotemporal variation of the ozone QBO in MLS data by wavelet analysis

Abstract. Spatiotemporal characteristics of the ozone quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) over the tropical-subtropical stratosphere (40° S–40° N) have been examined by analyzing data from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) aboard Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS) for the period 1992–1999. A combination of regression analysis and wavelet analysis combines to act as an accurate QBO filter. Wavelet analysis provides inter-annual variability of amplitude and phase of the ozone QBO in the vertical structure of tropical-subtropical stratosphere. It gives minute details of phase propagation and descend rates, which can be used as input to models. Latitude-height structure shows evidence of a secondary meridional circulation induced by the QBO as double peak structure at the equator with maximum amplitude at two pressure levels 30 hPa and 9 hPa and a node at 14 hPa. The equatorial maxima are out of phase with each other. The maximum amplitude (~1.4 ppmv) of the ozone QBO was observed near the equator at 10 hPa. Descent rate of the easterly phase is greater than westerly. The lag correlation of the ozone QBO with circulation and variation of descent rates in the vertical structure of the stratosphere are examined in detail. In the equatorial upper stratosphere ozone anomalies descent with the rate ~1.5 km/month but in tropics and subtropics (above 2 hPa) they propagate upward.

Net effect of the QBO in a chemistry climate model

Abstract. The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of zonal wind is a prominent mode of variability in the tropical stratosphere. It affects not only the meridional circulation and temperature over a wide latitude range but also the transport and chemistry of trace gases such as ozone. Compared to a QBO less circulation, the long-term climatological means of these quantities are also different. These climatological net effects of the QBO can be studied in general circulation models that extend into the middle atmosphere and have a chemistry and transport component, so-called Chemistry Climate Models (CCMs). In this work we show that the CCM MAECHAM4-CHEM can reproduce the observed QBO variations in temperature and ozone mole fractions when nudged towards observed winds. In particular, it is shown that the QBO signal in transport of nitrogen oxides NOx plays an important role in reproducing the observed ozone QBO, which features a phase reversal slightly below the level of maximum of the ozone mole fraction in the tropics. We then compare two 20-year experiments with the MAECHAM4-CHEM model that differ by including or not including the QBO. The mean wind fields differ between the two model runs, especially during summer and fall seasons in both hemispheres. The differences in the wind field lead to differences in the meridional circulation, by the same mechanism that causes the QBO's secondary meridional circulation, and thereby affect mean temperatures and the mean transport of tracers. In the tropics, the net effect on ozone is mostly due to net differences in upwelling and, higher up, the associated temperature change. We show that a net surplus of up to 15% in NOx in the tropics above 10 hPa in the experiment that includes the QBO does not lead to significantly different volume mixing ratios of ozone. We also note a slight increase in the southern vortex strength as well as earlier vortex formation in northern winter. Polar temperatures differ accordingly. Differences in the strength of the Brewer-Dobson circulation and in further trace gas concentrations are analysed. Our findings underline the importance of a representation of the QBO in CCMs.

Analysis of the quasi-biennial variability of carbon monoxide total column

On the basis of satellite observations of column carbon monoxide (CO) and total ozone (TO), an analysis has been performed of the connection of the interannual variability of CO with the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of the equatorial stratospheric wind and the QBO of total ozone. It is found that the CO total colomn over most of the globe in the westerly phase of the QBO is greater than that in the easterly phase. The global distribution of the CO QBO amplitudes exhibits a local maximum over Indonesia, where the peak-to-peak amplitude of the CO QBO signal averages 15% of the local annual mean CO in this region. Analysis shows that the QBOs of CO are well synchronized with the QBO of wind at 50 hPa. At the same time, a joint analysis of the characteristics of the CO QBO and TO QBO demonstrates no direct photochemical coupling between of the quasi-biennial variations of TO and CO.

Long-term variations and trends in the simulation of the middle atmosphere 1980–2004 by the chemistry-climate model of the Meteorological Research Institute

Abstract. A middle-atmosphere simulation of the past 25 years (from 1980 to 2004) has been performed with a chemistry-climate model (CCM) of the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) under observed forcings of sea-surface temperature, greenhouse gases, halogens, volcanic aerosols, and solar irradiance variations. The dynamics module of MRI-CCM is a spectral global model truncated triangularly at a maximum wavenumber of 42 with 68 layers extending from the surface to 0.01 hPa (about 80 km), wherein the vertical spacing is 500 m from 100 to 10 hPa. The chemistry-transport module treats 51 species with 124 reactions including heterogeneous reactions. Transport of chemical species is based on a hybrid semi-Lagrangian scheme, which is a flux form in the vertical direction and an ordinary semi-Lagrangian form in the horizontal direction. The MRI-CCM used in this study reproduced a quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of about a 20-month period for wind and ozone in the equatorial stratosphere. Multiple linear regression analysis with time lags for volcanic aerosols was performed on the zonal-mean quantities of the simulated result to separate the trend, the QBO, the El Chichón and Mount Pinatubo, the 11-year solar cycle, and the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signals. It is found that MRI-CCM can more or less realistically reproduce observed trends of annual mean temperature and ozone, and those of total ozone in each month. MRI-CCM also reproduced the vertical multi-cell structures of tropical temperature, zonal-wind, and ozone associated with the QBO, and the mid-latitude total ozone QBO in each winter hemisphere. Solar irradiance variations of the 11-year cycle were found to affect radiation alone (not photodissociation) because of an error in making the photolysis lookup table. Nevertheless, though the heights of the maximum temperature (ozone) in the tropics are much higher (lower) than observations, MRI-CCM could reproduce the second maxima of temperature and ozone in the lower stratosphere, demonstrating that the dynamic effect outweighs the photochemical effect there. The ENSO signals of annual mean temperature, zonal wind, and ozone are generally reproduced in the troposphere and below the middle stratosphere. The volcanic signals of temperature increase and ozone decrease are much overestimated for both El Chichón and Mount Pinatubo.

Features of ozone quasi-biennial oscillation in the vertical structure of tropics and subtropics

Summary Latitude-altitude structure of ozone QBO over the tropicalsubtropical stratosphere (40 � S–40 � N) has been explored by analyzing Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) aboard Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS) data for the period 1992–1999 using the multifunctional regression model. The inferred ozone QBO shows two maxima located at 22 hPa and 10 hPa with coefficient of 2–3% per 10 m=s centered at the equator. The equatorial maxima are out of phase with each other. Subtropics exhibit two peak structure near 14 hPa but of opposite sign to that of equatorial maximum near 10 hPa. Over the equatorial region, positive (zonal winds westerly) coefficients overlay negative (zonal winds easterlies) coefficients which descend with time. A pattern of equatorial maximum and two subtropical minima appears in the months December to February near 10 hpa and it propagates upward with progression of seasons. Equatorial QBO is seasonally asynchronous while subtropical QBO is seasonally synchronous.

Quasi‐biennial oscillation and tracer distributions in a coupled chemistry‐climate model

We have used a fully coupled chemistry‐climate model (CCM), which generates its own wind and temperature quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO), to study the effect of coupling on the QBO and to examine the QBO signals in stratospheric trace gases, particularly ozone. Radiative coupling of the interactive chemistry to the underlying general circulation model tends to prolong the QBO period and to increase the QBO amplitude in the equatorial zonal wind in the lower and middle stratosphere. The model ozone QBO agrees well with Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II and Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer satellite observations in terms of vertical and latitudinal structure. The model captures the ozone QBO phase change near 28 km over the equator and the column phase change near ±15° latitude. Diagnosis of the model chemical terms shows that variations in NOx are the main chemical driver of the O3 QBO around 35 km, i.e., above the O3 phase change.