Total Ozone Variations Research Articles

Anomalously low ozone of 1997 and 2011 Arctic spring: Monitoring results and analysis

Total ozone observations from the Total Ozone Unit (TOU) aboard the Chinese second generation polar orbiting meteorological satellite, Fengyun-3/A (FY-3/A), revealed that total column ozone over the Arctic declined rapidly from the beginning of March 2011. An extensive region of low column amount formed around mid March; monthly mean total column ozone in March 2011 was about 30% lower than the average observed during 1979—2010. Daily total column density of ozone near the center of low ozone area in mid March was less than 240 Dobson units, about half the total column ozone amount observed during the same period of the prior 10 years. We analyzed total column ozone data from different satellites during 1979—2011. Results show that the Arctic depletion of ozone in spring 2011 was initiated by the cold polar vortex in the lower stratosphere. The March mean total ozone over the Arctic has shown a decreasing trend over the past 32 years, and its variation is strongly correlated with the polar vortex. A similar low ozone process of spring 1997 was compared to that of 2011, but daily variations of total ozone in March over the Northern Hemisphere in 1997 and 2011 have different patterns.

A case study of the association of total ozone variability with major earthquakes in Greece during 2001–2010

Recent studies have suggested that variation of the total ozone content may be a precursor tool for earthquake forecasts. The main aim of this analysis is to examine whether the total ozone variability before and after the eight large earthquakes (M w ≥ 6.0) of the decade 2001–2010 in Greece could be related with these earthquake events. The results clearly show that the association of total ozone fluctuation with earthquake occurrence in the time window of 2 weeks before and after each of these large earthquake events is not statistically significant.

Interannual variability and temporal variations of total column ozone in Visakhapatnam from ground based observations

Total column ozone (TCO) measured by the portable, handheld, multichannel Sun photometer (ozonometer-Microtops-II) at Visakhapatnam (17.43°N, 83.14°E; 51 m above mean sea level), India, which is a tropical urban station has been analysed in this study. The results showed the estimate of the annual and seasonal trends of TCO from the period February 2005 to December 2008. The linear regression technique was applied in Microtops II data to study the trend of TCO during 2005–2008. It also provides statistics of mean and variability on temporal scale. The results showed increasing trend at Visakhapatnam an average of 1.88 DU per year (or 0.61% per year). However the maximum deviation in diurnal variability of TCO were 28 DU (9.19%) while the minimum deviation were −36 DU (−11.8%) respectively, which is one of the unique result of this study. The range of the seasonal change represents 9.2% of the mean TCO value with maximum/minimum during March/December.

Evidence of a possible turning point in solar UV-B over Canada, Europe and Japan

Abstract. This study examines the long-term variability of UV solar irradiances at 305 nm and 325 nm over selected sites in Canada, Europe and Japan. Site selection was restricted to the availability of the most complete UV spectroradiometric datasets during the period 1990–2011. The analysis includes the long-term variability of total ozone, aerosol optical depth and cloud fraction at the sites studied. The results, based on observations and modeling, suggest that over Canada, Europe and Japan the period under study can be divided into three sub-periods of scientific merit: the first period (1991–1994) is the period perturbed by the Pinatubo volcanic eruption, during which excess volcanic aerosol has enhanced the "conventional" amplification factor of UV-B at ground level by an additional factor that depends on solar elevation. The increase of the UV-B amplification factor is the result of enhanced scattering processes caused by the injection of huge amounts of volcanic aerosols during the perturbed period. The second period (1995–2006) is characterized by a 0.14% yr−1 increase in total ozone and an increasing trend in spectral irradiance by 0.94% yr−1 at 305 nm and 0.88% yr−1 at 325 nm. That paradox was caused by the significant decline of the aerosol optical depth by more than 1% yr−1 (the "brightening" effect) and the absence of any statistically significant trend in the cloud fraction. The third period (2007–2011) shows statistically significant evidence of a slowdown or even a turning point in the previously reported upward UV-B trends over Canada, Europe and Japan.

Short-term variations in surface UV-B irradiance and total ozone column at Ny-Ålesund during the QAARC campaign

Diurnal variations in total ozone column were observed to exceed 40DU during the QAARC campaign of late spring 2009 held at the Ny-Ålesund Arctic station in Svalbard. They were correlated to corresponding oscillations of surface UV-B irradiance, assuming that the strong dependence between these two variables ensures the reliability of registered total ozone oscillations. To make the comparison, an approach is proposed that allows the retrieval of diurnal variability in UV-B irradiance due to total ozone column changes, for application to the data collected during the campaign. The UV irradiance features observed with the reference spectroradiometer over a 7-day period were analyzed together with the corresponding ozone column data-sets, simultaneously obtained using two different devices. Power curves were found to provide the best-fit solutions for the retrieved UV-B variations, examined as a function of total ozone variations. Such approximations are characterized by regression coefficients of about −0.94 and by the exponent named in earlier studies as the radiation amplification factor (RAF), which was found to vary between 0.79 and 2.49. These RAF evaluations are in good agreement with previous estimates derived from both field measurements and model evaluations, which confirm the complete dependability of the short-term variations in the ozone column measured at Ny-Ålesund.

Extreme ozone loss over the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes in the early 2011

ABSTRACTThe satellite ozone data comprising The New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) total ozone database version 2.7, total ozone by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) spectrophotometer on the Aura platform, and the ozone mixing ratios by SBUV/2 measurements on The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) platforms are analysed for ozone variability over the sunlit part of the Northern Hemisphere polar region. An extended area, with unusually low ozone values, is observed in a two-month period beginning in mid February 2011. The total area with extremely depleted total ozone reached the maximum at the end of March 2011, equal to ~11×106 km2. The area is even larger in the lower/mid stratosphere. A multiple regression model is proposed to attribute the polar total ozone variability to various chemical and dynamical ozone forcings. The model reproduces the ozone loss in early 2011 and the overall picture of the ozone long-term changes. The extreme ozone decline in 2011 could be attributed to the long-lasting period with low stratospheric temperature (<195 K), weaker than the normal Brewer-Dobson circulation, and the Arctic Oscillation in a strong positive phase. A deficit of total ozone in the following summer months (June–July–August), after the total ozone decline in March, was predicted and supported by later OMI observations.

한반도 상공의 오존층 변화 1985~2009

The climatology in stratospheric ozone over the Korean Peninsula, presented in previous studies (e.g., Cho et al., 2003; Kim et al., 2005), is updated by using daily and monthly data from satellite and ground-based data through December 2009. In addition, long-term satellite data [Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), 1979~2009] have been also analyzed in order to deduce the spatial distributions and temporal variations of the global total ozone. The global average of total ozone (1979~2009) is 298 DU which shows a minimum of about 244 DU in equatorial latitudes and increases poleward in both hemispheres to a maximum of about 391 DU in Okhotsk region. The recent period, from-1980s (1979~1982). The long-term trends were estimated by using a multiple linear regression model (e.g., WMO, 1999; Cho et al., 2003) including explanatory variables for the seasonal variation, Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and solar cycle over three different time intervals: a whole interval from 1979 to 2009, the former interval from 1979 to 1992, and the later interval from 1993 to 2009 with a turnaround point of deep minimum in 1993 is related to the effect of Mt. Pinatubo eruption. The global trend shows ?0.93% decade?¹ for the whole interval, whereas the former and the later interval trends amount to ?2.59% decade?¹ and +0.95% decade?¹, respectively. Therefore, the long-term total ozone variations indicate that there are positive trends showing a recovery sign of the ozone layer in both North/South hemispheres since around 1993. Annual mean total ozone (1985~2009) is distributed from 298 DU for Jeju (33.52°N) to 352 DU for Unggi (42.32oN) in almost zonally symmetric pattern over the Korean Peninsula, with the latitudinal gradient of 6 DU degree?¹. It is apparent that seasonal variability of total ozone increases from Jeju toward Unggi. The annual mean total ozone for Seoul shows 323 DU, with the maximum of 359 DU in March and the minimum of 291 DU in October. It is found that the day to day variability in total ozone exhibits annual mean of 5.7% in increase and ?5.2% in decrease. The variability as large as 38.4% in increase and 30.3% in decrease has been observed, respectively. The long-term trend analysis (e.g., WMO, 1999) of monthly total ozone data (1985~2009) merged by satellite and ground-based measurements over the Korean Peninsula shows increase of 1.27% decade?¹ to 0.80% decade?¹ from Jeju to Unggi, respectively, showing systematic decrease of the trend magnitude with latitude. This study also presents a new analysis of ozone density and trends in the vertical distribution of ozone for Seoul with data up to the end of 2009. The mean vertical distributions of ozone show that the maximum value of the ozone density is 16.5 DU ㎞?¹ in the middle stratospheric layer between 24 ㎞ and 28 ㎞. About 90.0% and 71.5% of total ozone are found in the troposphere and in the stratosphere between 15 and 33 ㎞, respectively. The trend analysis reconfirms the previous results of significant positive ozone trend, of up to 5% decade?¹, in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere (0~24 ㎞), with negative trend, of up to ?5% decade?¹, in the stratosphere (24~38 ㎞). In addition, the Umkehr data show a positive trend of about 3% decade?¹ in the upper stratosphere (38~48 ㎞).

Effect of cloud on atmospheric ozone formation over Hyderabad (17.27°N, 78.28°E), India

The paper presents the nature of variations of clouds and total ozone over Hyderabad (17.27°N, 78.28°E), India. The low-level cloud over Hyderabad has been noticed to occur for many days and nights, particularly in the months from June to September. The low level cloud occurrences were minimum in winter months. The effect of cloud occurrence on ozone concentration has been critically analyzed and explained. It has been observed that the concentration of ozone increased with the increase of cloud occurrence. The related possible chemical explanation for ozone production processes has been offered.

El Niño–Southern Oscillation in Tropical and Midlatitude Column Ozone

Abstract The impacts of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the tropical total column ozone, the tropical tropopause pressure, and the 3.5-yr ozone signal in the midlatitude total column ozone were examined using the Goddard Earth Observing System Chemistry–Climate Model (GEOS CCM). Observed monthly mean sea surface temperature and sea ice between 1951 and 2004 were used as boundary conditions for the model. Since the model includes no solar cycle, quasi-biennial oscillation, or volcanic forcing, the ENSO signal was found to dominate the tropical total column ozone variability. Principal component analysis was applied to the detrended, deseasonalized, and low-pass filtered model outputs. The first mode of model total column ozone captured 63.8% of the total variance. The spatial pattern of this mode was similar to that in Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) observations. There was also a clear ENSO signal in the tropical tropopause pressure in the GEOS CCM, which is related to the ENSO signal in the total column ozone. The regression coefficient between the model total column ozone and the model tropopause pressure was 0.71 Dobson units (DU) hPa−1. The GEOS CCM was also used to investigate a possible mechanism for the 3.5-yr signal observed in the midlatitude total column ozone. The 3.5-yr signal in the GEOS CCM column ozone is similar to that in the observations, which suggests that a model with realistic ENSO can reproduce the 3.5-yr signal. Hence, it is likely that the 3.5-yr signal was caused by ENSO.

Seasonal variation of daily total column ozone (TCO) and role of its depletion and formation rate on surface temperature over Dumdum at Kolkata, India

The purpose of the paper is to present the variation of total ozone concentration over Dumdum at Kolkata, India during different seasons. It is concluded that the trend of ozone concentration during different seasons are different. A critical analysis is done and following important results are obtained. (i) The total ozone concentration increases during the pre-monsoon and winter periods. During pre-monsoon period rate of formation of ozone increases sharply with the rise of surface temperature. (ii) TCO decreases during the monsoon and post-monsoon periods, throughout the period of study. During monsoon period rate of depletion of ozone increases and during post-monsoon period rate of depletion of ozone decreases with the increase of temperature. (iii) Possible explanations are also presented.

Impact of zonal wind on latitudinal variation of total columnar ozone over the Indian Peninsula

Latitudinal and seasonal variability of total columnar ozone from September 2007 to August 2008 across the Indian longitude sector within 10.5° N to 34.5° N and 70.5° E to 94.5° E using satellite data obtained from Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS) is presented. The total column ozone (TCO) over the area of study shows a gradually varying pattern throughout the year. In the post-monsoon (autumn) and winter months, maximum TCO is observed in the north-western part of the subcontinent while the minimum is often observed towards the east at about the same latitudes. A west–east spatial gradient is clearly observed in autumn months. As winter approaches, a north–south spatial gradient becomes more prominent than the east–west gradient. It has been further observed that TCO does not vary significantly over the entire subcontinent in monsoon.

Long term variability of total ozone yearly minima and maxima in the latitudinal belt from 20°N to 60°N derived from the merged satellite data in the period 1979–2008

This paper deals with the behavior of the annual cycle of total ozone (ACO3) and its amplitude (O3 AMP) in the latitudinal belt from 20°N to 60°N. The prominent feature of the O3 AMP spatial pattern is the sharp maximum over the north-east coast of Asia. The spatial correlation of O3 AMP with its highest/lowest value varies with location: in the middle latitudes it correlates predominantly with the values of annual maxima of total ozone, while in the lower latitudes, there is a strong negative correlation with the values of ACO3 minima. Regarding temporal evolution of O3 AMP we detected distinct negative trend in the period of 1979–1995 which is caused by stronger negative trend of maxima than the negative trend of minima in ACO3. In the period 1995–2008 we found the positive trend of ACO3 in most regions due to stronger positive trend of maxima than that of minima in ACO3 in the middle latitudes (especially over the central and northern Europe and the north-east Asia). In the lower latitudes a weak negative trend of O3 AMP was identified and linked to weaker positive trend of maxima than positive trend of minima in ACO3. The behavior of the temporal trends was linked to the changes in Brewer–Dobson circulation and to the trends of tropopause pressure.

Variability of sunspot cycle QBO and total ozone over high altitude western Himalayan regions

Long-term trend of total column ozone at high altitude region in Ladakh is studied, using a total ozone mapping spectrometer and an ozone monitoring instrument during 1979–2008. In the region, total ozone exhibits seasonality with maximum in spring and minimum in autumn. The decreasing trend of total ozone was found as −2.51±0.45% per decade with 95% confidence level in the region. Ozone deficiency in the Ladakh region is strongest (−33.9 DU at Hanle) in May and weakest (−11.5 DU at Hanle) in January–February. In the study, the solar maximum in 1990 is in phase with ozone maximum, while ozone variation lags in phase with the 1980 and 2000 solar maxima. However, a significant correlation between total ozone and sunspot number is achieved in the westerly phase of quasi-biennial oscillation during spring season. Decreasing trend of ozone in the region is correlating well with the cooling rate in the lower stratosphere.

Variation of total column ozone along the monsoon trough region over north India

This study examined the total column ozone (TCO) variations over New Delhi (28.65° N, 77.217° E) and Varanasi (25.32° N, 83.03° E), which lie along the monsoon trough region, and over the tropical station Kodaikanal (10.23° N, 77.46° E), which lies outside the monsoon trough. Monthly, seasonal and annual TCO variations were determined using data from ground-based Dobson spectrophotometers during 2000–2008, Brewer spectrophotometers during 2000–2005 and the satellite-based Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography (SCIAMACHY) during 2002–2008. We found that Dobson, Brewer and SCIAMACHY TCO variations showed negative trends, indicating a decreasing tendency during the period studied at all three stations. Over Varanasi, the trend decreased further by about 3 DU year−1. Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) influences were seen in the time series of TCO over New Delhi and Varanasi, and weaker QBO signals over Kodaikanal. Comparisons were made between ground-based Dobson and Brewer spectrophotometer and SCIAMACHY satellite monthly mean TCO values. The differences between SCIAMACHY and Dobson TCO were 0.4–4.2% for New Delhi and 2.3–6.2% for Varanasi. The differences between SCIAMACHY and Brewer TCO values were 2.0–6.4% for Kodaikanal. In the peak monsoon months (July and August), decreases in TCO values over New Delhi and Varanasi (the monsoon trough region) may be due to the deep convection present during the monsoon season. During the monsoon season, several intense cyclonic systems appear over the monsoon trough region and may cause lowering of the TCO. Kodaikanal shows opposite features, with high values being observed during the peak monsoon months. TCO values over New Delhi were found to be higher than those over Varanasi and Kodaikanal, and TCO values over Varanasi were higher than over Kodaikanal. It was concluded that TCO values increase with increasing latitude.

Diurnal variability of total ozone column over Madrid (Spain)

In recent years, research on ozone variability has mainly focused on the analysis of its trend. Additionally some studies have analyzed the annual, seasonal and day-to-day ozone variations. However, intra-diurnal total ozone variations are notably less explored. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to analyze the diurnal variability of total ozone column (TOC) as recorded by a Brewer spectrophotometer in Madrid (Spain). The results show that about 90% of days present non-negligible diurnal variability, indicating that, in general, it should not be assumed that TOC remains constant throughout a particular day in urban areas. In addition, this variability has a notable seasonal behavior which should be considered (the spring and summer months show higher diurnal TOC variations than autumn and winter months). This pattern is likely caused by the diurnal photochemical processes in the lower troposphere related to the formation of tropospheric ozone near the earth’s surface at populated urban locations. Thus, these diurnal fluctuations in tropospheric ozone could explain part of diurnal TOC variations (between 20% and 70% depending on the mixing layer height).

A new ENSO index derived from satellite measurements of column ozone

Abstract. Column Ozone measured in tropical latitudes from Nimbus 7 total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS), Earth Probe TOMS, solar backscatter ultraviolet (SBUV), and Aura ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) are used to derive an El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) index. This index, which covers a time period from 1979 to the present, is defined as the "Ozone ENSO Index" (OEI) and is the first developed from atmospheric trace gas measurements. The OEI is constructed by first averaging monthly mean column ozone over two broad regions in the western and eastern Pacific and then taking their difference. This differencing yields a self-calibrating ENSO index which is independent of individual instrument calibration offsets and drifts in measurements over the long record. The combined Aura OMI and MLS ozone data confirm that zonal variability in total column ozone in the tropics caused by ENSO events lies almost entirely in the troposphere. As a result, the OEI can be derived directly from total column ozone instead of tropospheric column ozone. For clear-sky ozone measurements a +1 K change in Nino 3.4 index corresponds to +2.9 Dobson Unit (DU) change in the OEI, while a +1 hPa change in SOI coincides with a −1.7 DU change in the OEI. For ozone measurements under all cloud conditions these numbers are +2.4 DU and −1.4 DU, respectively. As an ENSO index based upon ozone, it is potentially useful in evaluating climate models predicting long term changes in ozone and other trace gases.

Effect of cloud on atmospheric ozone formation over Kolkata (22°34′N, 88°24′E), India

The paper presents the nature of variations of clouds and total ozone over Kolkata (22°34′N, 88°24′E), India. The low-level cloud over Kolkata has been noticed to occur for many days and nights, particularly in the months from June to September. The low level cloud occurrences were minimum in winter months. The effect of cloud occurrence on ozone concentration has been critically analyzed and explained. It has been observed that the concentration of ozone increased with the increase of cloud occurrence. The related possible chemical explanation for ozone production processes has been offered.

Variability of total ozone over India and its adjoining regions during 1997–2008

Total Ozone Concentration (TOC) data over nineteen stations around India (fifteen stations) and its adjoining regions (three stations in Pakistan and one station in Bangladesh) are investigated in the present analysis. The overpass satellite data for these nineteen stations, distributed in the latitude range from 8.48°N to 35.83°N and altitude range from 6 m to 2718 m are available from FTP Site. TOC data pertaining to the last twelve years from 1997 to 2008 were obtained from two different instruments: Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on Earth Probe and AURA satellites respectively. The analysis is divided into two phases, each of six years duration; from 1997 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2008. Seasonal average values of TOC are calculated for the two phases and compared to study the spatial distribution (latitude, longitude and station altitude) and the trends of TOC variation. In general a decreasing tendency in ozone concentration was found everywhere. The average yearly rate of the TOC decrease was −0.363 DU over the entire region during the period 1997–2008. The trends in the TOC distribution and its decrease with latitude were found parabolic, with a deep near 14.7°N and 12.1°N for the two phases respectively. The decrease was maximum at lower latitude (−1.87%) and minimum (−0.25%) at higher latitude. Weak oscillatory trends in the TOC distribution and its decrease with longitude were found. A deep in the longitudinal variation was observed in each phase, at 77.4°E during 1997–2002 and at 78.2°E during 2003–2008. The minimum centre of the ozone distribution is therefore shifted from 14.7°N, 77.4°E to 12.1°N, 78.2°E over the last twelve years, and in general a meridional line near 78°E appears to divide symmetrically the TOC distribution over this region. Strong oscillatory trends in the seasonal average of TOC distribution and its decrease with station altitude are observed during the two phases. The inversion of high correlation coefficients between the seasonal average TOC and station altitude in the range 6 m to 2718 m indicate the existence of four transition layers aloft, near 200, 740, 1670, and 2400 m in the lower troposphere. Emission of precursor pollutants together with complex wind pattern around the marine boundary appears to have strong potentials to modulate tropospheric ozone and the observed spatial distribution of TOC may be expected.

Regional forecast of the UV index with optimized total ozone prediction using satellite observations over East Asia

A regional forecast model of the ultraviolet (UV) index has been developed by using a radiative transfer model and a multiple linear regression model to forecast total ozone over East Asia. This is a difficult and challenging task because of frequent cloud cover and atmospheric aerosols. The new, improved total ozone forecast model was constructed over each grid point in East Asia based on extensive investigation of the correlation between the total ozone and predictors related to the variation in total ozone. Root mean square errors (RMSEs) in the UV index between the forecast and satellite observations from the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) for clear sky conditions range from 0.27 to 1.50 with an average of 0.79 in monthly statistics. Although the patterns of the corrected UV index when applying the cloud modification factor (CMF) and the aerosol modification factor (AMF) compare reasonably well with those of the UV index measured with the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), the performance depends on the accuracy of forecast for cloud and aerosol optical depth (AOD). Additional consideration of surface albedo and cloud optical depth are required to further refine and improve the accuracy of the prediction.

Total ozone over Ankara and its forecasting using regression models

The present study is concerned with the total ozone variation in Ankara, Turkey (39°57′ N; 32°53′ E) and developing a total ozone prediction model by Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and single-site aerological data (1984–2006). The daily averages of the total column ozone over Ankara show a seasonal variation, with larger values in spring/winter and lower in autumn/summer and a large day-to-day variability. In this study, in order to forecast the total column ozone over Ankara, a multi-linear regression equation was performed. Predictors are selected by stepwise regression method. The ozone value on the previous day, temperature at the 100 hPa pressure level, previous day's temperature for the 700 hPa pressure level and temperature difference for 50 hPa and 500 hPa are the most important predictors. The success of monthly prognostic total column ozone models built up for Ankara is tested by using Brewer MK III Spectrophotometer data and satellite (OMI) data with the upper-air data in 2007. The Brewer MKIII has been in operation since November 2006 in Ankara. The ground-based one-year data show good agreement with the satellite OMI data.