Vertical ozone distribution characteristics deduced from ∼ 44,000 re-evaluated Umkehr profiles (1957–2000)

Summary Umkehr observations taken during the 1957–2000 period at 15 stations located between 19 and 52° N have been reanalyzed using a significantly improved algorithm-99, developed by DeLuisi and Petropavlovskikh et al. (2000a,b). The alg-99 utilizes new latitudinal and seasonally dependent first guess ozone and temperature profiles, new vector radiative transfer code, complete aerosol corrections, gravimetric corrections, and others. Before reprocessing, all total ozone values as well as the N-values (radiance) readings were thoroughly re-evaluated. For the first time, shifts in the N-values were detected and provisionally corrected. The re-evaluated Umkehr data set was validated against satellite and ground based measurements. The retrievals with alg-99 show much closer agreement with the lidar and SAGE than with the alg-92. Although the latitudinal coverage is limited, this Umkehr data set contains ∼ 44,000 profiles and represent the longest (∼ 40 years) coherent information on the ozone behavior in the stratosphere of the Northern Hemisphere. The 14-months periods following the El-Chichon and the Mt. Pinatubo eruptions were excluded from the analysis. Then the basic climatological characteristics of the vertical ozone distribution in the 44–52° N and more southern locations are described. Some of these characteristics are not well known or impossible to be determined from satellites or single stations. The absolute and relative variability reach their maximum during winter–spring at altitudes below 24 km; the lower stratospheric layers in the middle latitudes contain ∼ 62% of the total ozone and contribute ∼ 57% to its total variability. The layer-5 (between ∼ 24 and 29 km) although containing 20% of the total ozone shows the least fluctuations, no trend and contributes only ∼ 11% to the total ozone variability. Meridional cross-sections from 19 to 52° N of the vertical ozone distribution and its variability illustrate the changes, and show poleward-decreasing altitude of the ozone maximum. The deduced trends above 33 km confirm a strong ozone decline since the mid-1970s of over 5% per decade without significant seasonal differences. In the mid-latitude stations, the decline in the 15–24 km layer is nearly twice as strong in the winter-spring season but much smaller in the summer and fall. The effect of including 1998 and 1999 years with relatively high total ozone data reduces the overall-declining trend. The trends estimated from alg-99 retrievals are statistically not significantly different from those in WMO 1998a; however, they are stronger by about 1% per decade in the lower stratosphere and thus closer to the estimates by sondes. Comparisons of the integrated ozone loss from the Umkehr measurements with the total ozone changes for the same periods at stations with good records show complete concurrence. The altitude and latitude appearances of the long-term geophysical signals like solar (1–2%) and QBO (2–7%) are investigated. Received April 12, 2001 Revised September 19, 2001     

Vertical Variation of Madden-Jullian Oscillations in the Normal Monsoon Season as Revealed Through MST Radar Wind Data

Summary  Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) Radar wind data for the period June through September 1996 have been examined to study vertical variation of Madden-Jullian Oscillations in wind and eddy kinetic energy (eke) in the normal monsoon season. The domain of analysis in the vertical is from 6 to 20 km with a height resolution of 150 m. Fast-Fourier-Transformation (FFT) has been applied to zonal (u), meridional(v) components of wind to extract the Madden-Jullian oscillations and eke. There are three dominant modes viz., 50–70, 30–40 and 10–20 day periodicity, which contain considerable fraction of energy and show high degree of vertical variability. The peak amplitude of 50–70 day mode in u, 30–40 mode in v and eke were observed at 16–17 km just below the tropopause level. The peak amplitudes of 30–40 day mode in u and 50–70 day mode in v were found in the height region of 13–16 km. To understand the origin and propagation of these waves, wave energy is calculated. The wave energy is higher at tropospheric heights than at lower stratospheric heights indicating that the origin of these waves is in the troposphere, and a part of the energy leaks into the stratosphere. Received September 17, 1998/Revised September 26, 1999     

Downward transport and modification of tropospheric ozone through moist convection

This study estimated the largely unstudied downward transport and modification of tropospheric ozone associated with tropical moist convection using a coupled meteorology-chemistry model. High-resolution cloud resolving model simulations were conducted for deep moist convection events over West Africa during August 2006 to estimate vertical transport of ozone due to convection. Model simulations realistically reproduced the characteristics of deep convection as revealed by the estimated spatial distribution of temperature, moisture, cloud reflectivity, and vertical profiles of temperature and moisture. Also, results indicated that vertical transport reduced ozone by 50% (50 parts per billion by volume, ppbv) in the upper atmosphere (12–15 km) and enhanced ozone by 39% (10 ppbv) in the lower atmosphere (<2 km). Field observations confirmed model results and indicated that surface ozone levels abruptly increased by 10–30 ppbv in the area impacted by convection due to transport by downdrafts from the upper troposphere. Once in the lower troposphere, the lifetime of ozone decreased due to enhanced dry deposition and chemical sinks. Ozone removal via dry deposition increased by 100% compared to non-convective conditions. The redistribution of tropospheric ozone substantially changed hydroxyl radical formation in the continental tropical boundary layer. Therefore, an important conclusion of this study is that the redistribution of tropospheric ozone, due to deep convection in non-polluted tropical regions, can simultaneously reduce the atmospheric loading of ozone and substantially impact the oxidation capacity of the lower atmosphere via the enhanced formation of hydroxyl radicals.     

Seasonal variations of gravity waves revealed in rawinsonde data at Pohang,Korea

Summary Seasonal variations of gravity wave characteristics are investigated using rawinsonde data observed at Pohang observatory, Korea (36°2′N, 129°23′E) during the one-year period of 1998. Analysis is carried out for two atmospheric layers representing the troposphere (2–9 km) and stratosphere (17–30 km). There exist clear seasonal variations in amplitudes of temperature and wind perturbations and wave energy in the stratosphere, with their maxima in wintertime and minima in summertime. A strong correlation is found between the wave activity and the strength of the jet stream, but there is no clear correlation between the wave activity and the vertical gradient of static stability. The intrinsic frequency and vertical and horizontal wavelengths of gravity waves in the stratosphere are 2f–3f, where f is the Coriolis parameter, and 2–3 km and 300–500 km, respectively. The intrinsic phase velocity directs westward in January and northeastward in July. The vertical flux of the stratospheric zonal momentum is mostly negative except in summertime with a maximum magnitude in January. Topography seems to be a major source of stratospheric gravity waves in wintertime. Convection can be a source of gravity waves in summertime, but it is required to know convective sources at nearby stations, due to their intermittency and locations relative to floating balloons.     

Ozone Vertical Profile Characteristics over Qinghai Plateau Measured by Electrochemical Concentration Cell Ozonesondes

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一次对流层异常臭氧次峰的观测研究及其动力输送过程的分析

文中分析了 1996年 8月 1日发生在西宁 (36 .4 3°N ,10 1.4 5°E ,海拔 :2 2 96m)地区对流层异常臭氧次峰现象。观测资料揭示了高空低压槽东移是臭氧次峰的主要天气特征。三维后向轨迹计算表明 ,尽管代表臭氧次峰的气团可以追溯到中亚地区 ,但是明显的气团向下输送则发生在新疆、青海间的高空低压槽内。中尺度模拟进一步确认了对流层顶折叠和平流层向下输送是臭氧次峰出现的动力机制。臭氧次峰在对流层高度位置与准无辐散层有关     

Satellite Measurements of Tropospheric Column O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in Eastern and Southeastern Asia: Comparison with a Global Model (MOZART-2)

Satellite measurements of tropospheric column O₃ and NO₂ in eastern and southeastern Asia are analyzed to study the spatial and seasonal characteristics of pollution in these regions. Tropospheric column O₃ is derived from differential measurements of total column ozone from Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), and stratospheric column ozone from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). The tropospheric column NO₂ is measured by Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME). A global chemical and transport model (Model of Ozone and Related Chemical Tracers, version 2; MOZART-2) is applied to analyze and interpret the satellite measurements. The study, which is based on spring, summer, and fall months of 1997 shows generally good agreement between the model and satellite data with respect to seasonal and spatial characteristics of O₃ and NO₂ fields. The analysis of the model results show that the industrial emission of NO_x (NO + NO₂) contributes about 50%–80% to tropospheric column NO₂ in eastern Asia and about 20%–50% in southeastern Asia. The contribution of industrial emission of NO_x to tropospheric column O₃ ranges from 10% to 30% in eastern Asia. Biomass burning and lightning NO_x emissions have a small effect on tropospheric O₃ in central and eastern Asia, but they have a significant impact in southeastern Asia. The varying effects of NO_x on tropospheric column ozone are attributed to differences in relative abundance of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with respect to total nitrogen in the two regions.     

拉萨地区1998年夏季臭氧总量及垂直廓线的观测研究

该文根据1998年6~10月上旬在拉萨地区进行的臭氧总量及臭氧垂直廓线的观测结果, 并结合同期同纬度其他两个臭氧站数据资料, 证实了以拉萨地区为代表的青藏高原在夏季存在“臭氧低谷”的现象.分析表明, 地基和卫星观测的臭氧总量有一定误差. Umkehr观测反演结果表明夏季拉萨地区平流层臭氧分布和同纬度其他地区相比略有不同; 在对流层, 探空资料显示了该地区对流层臭氧有低值分布的特征.     

Ozone structure over the equatorial Andes from balloon-borne observations and zonal connection with two tropical sea level sites

In this paper we present first-time measurements of ozone profiles from a high altitude station in Quito, Ecuador (0.19°S, 78.4°W, and 2391 masl) taken from June 2014 to September 2015. We interpret ozone observations in the troposphere, tropopause, and stratosphere through a zonal comparison with data from stations in the Atlantic and Pacific (Natal and San Cristobal from the SHADOZ network). Tropospheric ozone concentrations above the Andes are lower than ozone over San Cristobal and Natal for similar time periods. Ozone variability and pollution layers are also reduced in the troposphere above the Andes. We explain these differences in terms of reduced contributions from the boundary layer and from horizontal transport. In the tropical tropopause layer, ozone is well-mixed up to near the cold point tropopause level. In this regard, our profiles do not show constraints to deep mixing above 14 km, as has been consistently observed at other tropical stations. Total column ozone and stratospheric column ozone are comparable among the three sites. However, the contribution of tropospheric column ozone to total column ozone is significantly lower above the Andes. Our comparisons provide a connection between observations from tropical stations in equatorial South America separated by the wide continental mass. Identified differences in ozone throughout the atmospheric column demonstrate the global benefit of having an ozone sounding station at the equatorial Andes in support of global monitoring networks.     

Measurements of surface ozone at semi-arid site Anantapur (14.62°N, 77.65°E, 331 m asl) in India

In the present study, an attempt has been made to examine the governing photochemical processes of surface ozone (O₃) formation in rural site. For this purpose, measurements of surface ozone and selected meteorological parameters have been made at Anantapur (14.62°N, 77.65°E, 331 m asl), a semi-arid zone in India from January 2002 to December 2003. The annual average diurnal variation of O₃ shows maximum concentration 46 ppbv at noon and minimum 25 ppbv in the morning with 1σ standard deviation. The average seasonal variation of ozone mixing ratios are observed to be maximum (about 60 ppbv) during summer and minimum (about 22 ppbv) in the monsoon period. The monthly daytime and nighttime average surface ozone concentration shows a maximum (55 ± 7 ppbv; 37 ± 7.3 ppbv) in March and minimum (28 ± 3.4 ppbv; 22 ± 2.3 ppbv) in August during the study period. The monthly average high (low) O₃ 48.9 ± 7.7 ppbv (26.2 ± 3.5 ppbv) observed at noon in March (August) is due to the possible increase in precursor gas concentration by anthropogenic activity and the influence of meteorological parameters. The rate of increase of surface ozone is high (1.52 ppbv/h) in March and lower (0.40 ppbv/h) in July. The average rate of increase of O₃ from midnight to midday is 1 ppbv/h. Surface temperature is highest (43–44°C) during March and April months leading to higher photochemical production. On the other hand, relative humidity, which is higher during the rainy season, shows negative correlation with temperature and ozone mixing ratio. It can be seen that among the two parameters are measured, correlation of surface ozone with wind speed is better (R ²=0.84) in compare with relative humidity (R ²=0.66).     

An ozone depletion event in the sub-arctic surface layer over Hudson Bay,Canada

During the Tropospheric Ozone Production about the Spring Equinox (TOPSE) program, aircraft flights during April 7–11, 2000 revealed a large area air mass capped below ∼500 m altitude over Hudson Bay, Canada in which ozone was reduced from normal levels of 30–40 ppbv to as low as 0.5 ppbv. From some of the in-situ aircraft measurements, back-trajectory calculations, the tropospheric column of BrO derived from GOME satellite measurements, and results from a regional model, we conclude that the event did not originate from triggering of reactive halogen release in the sub-Arctic region of Hudson Bay but resulted from such an event occurring at higher latitudes over the islands of the northern Canada Archipelago and nearby Arctic Ocean with subsequent transport over a distance of 1,000–1,500 km to Hudson Bay. BrO _x remained active during this transport despite considerable changes in the conditions of the underlying surface suggesting that chemical recycling during transport dominated any local halogen input from the surface. If all of the tropospheric column density of BrO is distributed uniformly within the surface layer, then the mixing ratio of BrO derived from the satellite measurements is at least a factor of 2–3 larger than derived indirectly from in situ aircraft measurements of the NO/NO₂ ratio.     

Synoptic patterns in relation to ozone concentrations in west-central Taiwan

Summary Recent studies have shown that regional orography and synoptic patterns greatly affect ozone concentrations. The orography of certain locations is unfavorable for pollutant dispersion, and specific synoptic patterns in these locations lead to serious air pollution episodes. Frequent ozone episodes (defined as hourly ozone ≥ 120 ppbv) in west-central Taiwan during recent years have generated much concern. High ozone days (defined as hourly ozone ≥ 80 ppbv) are also occurring more frequently. High ozone days occur mainly during autumn, but there has been no clear linear relationship demonstrated between any single meteorological variable and pollutant concentration. In this study, statistical data from 1997–1999 has shown that high ozone levels occur with two types of synoptic patterns. The first type consists of a continental anticyclone emanating from mainland China which is swept towards Taiwan. The second is a tropical low pressure system moving northwards closer to Taiwan. West-central Taiwan is located in the lee of the Central Ranges (altitude of 2500 ∼ 3500 m). These synoptic patterns are unfavorable for pollutant dispersion and cause high ozone days. Received October 14, 2000/Revised January 5, 2001     

An assessment of the potential impact of a downward shift of tropospheric water vapor on climate sensitivity

This work uses an energy balance climate model (EBCM) with explicit infrared radiative transfer, parametrized tropospheric temperature and humidity profiles, and separate stratosphere, troposphere, and surface energy balances, to investigate claims that a downward redistribution of tropospheric water vapor in response to surface warming could serve as a strong negative feedback on climatic change. A series of sensitivity tests is carried out using: (1) a variety of relationships between total precipitable water in the troposphere and temperature; (2) feedbacks between surface temperature and the vertical distribution of tropospheric water vapor at low latitudes; and (3) feedback between surface temperature or meridional temperature gradient and lapse rate. Fixed relative humidity (RH) enhances the global mean surface temperature response to a CO₂ doubling by only 50% compared to fixed absolute humidity, giving a response of 1.8 K. When water vapor is assumed to be redistributed downward between 30°S–30°N such that a 1 K surface warming reduces total precipitable water above 600 hPa by 10%, the global mean surface air temperature response is reduced to 1.2 K. Assuming a stronger downward redistribution in relation to surface temperature change has a rapidly diminishing marginal effect on global mean and tropical surface temperature response, while slightly increasing the warming at high latitudes due to the parametrized dependence of middle-to-high latitude lapse rate on the meridional temperature gradient. A modest downward water vapor redistribution, such that absolute humidity in the upper troposphere at subtropical latitudes is constant as total precipitable water increases, can reduce the tropical temperature sensitivity to less than 1 K, while increasing the equator-to-pole amplification of the surface air temperature response from a factor of about three to a factor of four. However, it is concluded that whatever changes in future GCM response might occur as a result of new parametrizations of subgrid-scale processes, they are exceedingly unlikely to produce a climate sensitivity to a CO₂ doubling of less than 1 K even if there is a strong downward shift in the water vapor distribution as climate warms. Received: 23 February 1998 / Accepted: 1 November 1999     

Estimation of the tropospheric air ratio near the thermal tropopause using the aircraft measurements

Results of the analysis of the stratospheric aircraft M-55 Geofizika measurements are presented. Estimates of the tropospheric air ratio near the thermal tropopause were conducted using the correlations between the water vapor and ozone values. The data of the measurements were used in the several aircraft campaigns held in the wintertime in the extratropical latitudes. The increased water vapor concentration was indicated during the flight on February 11, 2003 at the 12-km height which exceeds the averaged concentrations of water vapor in the extratropics by 1.5–2 times. The contribution of the tropospheric air near the thermal tropopause is quantitatively estimated. Results obtained here allow estimating the layer thickness in which the air masses of the different origin occur.     

INTERCOMPARISON OF OZONE VERTICAL PROFILES BETWEEN ECC OZONESONDE AND BREWER UMKEHR MADE OVER QINGHAI PLATEAU OF CHINA*

From October 1995 to August 1996.a total of 50 ECC(electrochemical concentration cell) ozonesoundings were made in Xining(36.43°N,101.45°E,2296 m ASL)to study the distribution and seasonal characteristics of ozone profile,and intercompare the Brewer Umkehr ozone profiles obtained at Waliguan Baseline Station over the Qinghai Plateau.It was demonstrated that(1) Umkehr produced estimates of the ozone comparing with ECC profiles were accurate to better than 25% in the 20-38 km altitude range,and where 23-33 km region was the most accurate,within about 15% of the ECC ozonesonde:(2)higher differences between Brewer Umkehr and ECC ozonesonde occurred in the troposphere and lower stratosphere;and ozone amounts were overestimated in Umkehr layers 1,2 and 3,and were underestimated in Umkehr layers 6 and 7 by Brewer Umkehr method.     

The regional distribution of tropospheric ozone in East Asia from satellite-based measurements

Estimates of tropospheric ozone in the East Asian region were obtained using the TOMS and SAGE II satellite data sets through the application of residual analysis on a regional scale. The resulting tropospheric residual ozone shows seasonal variability with highest values in spring and summer. Latitudinal variations give indications of possible input to the tropospheric ozone column from anthropogenic activity. A strong correlation between residual and TOMS total ozone data during summer time suggests a significant level of photochemical ozone production in this region during this period. Comparisons are made with surface ozone measurements from remotely located sites in Japan and show a similar overall pattern.     

An empirical model for estimating stratospheric ozone vertical distributions over China

Based on the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II and the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) ozone profiles and the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) total ozone data sets, an empirical model for estimating the vertical distribution of stratospheric ozone over China is proposed. By using this model, the vertical distribution of stratospheric (16–50 km) ozone can be estimated according to latitude, month and total ozone. Comparisons are made between the modeled ozone profiles and the ...     

Analysis of wind vertical component characteristics in the stratosphere

Height, time, and latitude dependences are analyzed of zonal mean vertical component of wind velocity for the period of 1992–2006 from the UKMO atmospheric general circulation model. It is shown that the ascending wind speed can provide vertical transport, against gravity, of rather large (up to 3–5μm) aerosol particles with density to 1.0–1.5 g/cm³ in the stratosphere and mesosphere. The wind velocity vertical component is supposedly a significant factor of particle motion up to 30–40–km levels and can affect sedimentation rate and residence time of the aerosol particles in the stratosphere. Structure of the mean vertical component of wind velocity allows occurrence of dynamically stable aerosol layers in the middle stratosphere.     

A Method for Retrieving Vertical Ozone Profiles from Limb Scattered Measurements

A two-step method is employed in this study to retrieve vertical ozone profiles using scattered measure- ments from the limb of the atmosphere. The combination of the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) and the Multiplicative Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (MART) is proposed. First, the limb radiance, measured over a range of tangent heights, is processed using the DOAS technique to recover the effective column densities of atmospheric ozone. Second, these effective column densities along the lines of sight (LOSs) are inverted using the MART coupled with a forward model SCIATRAN (radiative transfer model for SCIAMACHY) to derive the ozone profiles. This method is applied to Optical Spectrograph and Infra Red Imager System (OSIRIS) radiance, using the wavelength windows 571-617 nm. Vertical ozone profiles between 10 and 48 km are derived with a vertical resolution of 1 km. The results illustrate a good agreement with the cloud-free coincident SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) ozone measurements, with deviations less than ± 10% ( ± 5% for altitudes from 17 to 47 km). Furthermore, sensitivities of retrieved ozone to aerosol, cloud parameters and NO 2 concentration are also investigated.     

Temporal Variations in the Vertical Distribution of Stratospheric Ozone over Obninsk from Lidar Data

The results of lidar measurements of ozone profiles over Obninsk in the altitude range of 12–35 km in 2012–2016 are presented. Temporal variations in total ozone in the above altitude range and seasonal variations in the vertical distribution of ozone are considered. Basic attention is paid to the analysis of ozone profile variations on the daily and weekly scales. The backtrajectory analysis demonstrated that in most cases the formation of layers with low or high ozone values is explained by the direction of meridional advection. Cross-correlation coefficients for the variations in ozone and temperature relative to the current monthly mean variations are calculated. Rather high values of correlation coefficients (~0.4–0.6) are obtained for summer in the low stratosphere (100 and 160 hPa) and for winter in the upper troposphere (50 and 20 hPa). In general, variations in ozone profiles are consistent with available climatologic data.