Variability in the determination of total atmospheric ozone using remote sensing spectroscopic techniques

A spectroscopic method for optical remote sensing of total ozone (O₃) is described. It involves detailed spectral matching of near ultraviolet solar observations with synthetic profiles containing various amounts of ozone absorption. Application of this technique is made to airborne solar measurements in the 3100 to 3600 Å wavelength region. In the 3100 to 3200 Å region, measurements made above the tropopause (around geographic latitude 36.7°N, longitude 121.7°W at 0045 UT on 1/23/74) generally fit synthetic profiles constructed with 0.3 atm cm of O₃ absorption andBroadfoot's (1972) extra-terrestrial solar irradiance values. However, there are several sections of the solar spectra where the observed intensity is either significantly higher or lower than the calculated value. In addition, several maxima and minima in the observed spectra do not coincide in wavelength with corresponding features in the synthetic profile. Such problems also appear when comparison is made with synthetic profiles based onArvesen et al.'s (1969) extra-terrestrial solar irradiance measurements. These discrepancies may arise from a combination of sources, including errors in laboratory measured O₃ absorption coefficients, the extra-terrestrial solar irradiance values and the presence of other UV absorbing species in the stratosphere.     

Spectral Aerosol Transmittance in the Ultraviolet and Visible Spectra in Athens,Greece

This work investigates the spectral atmospheric transmittance due to aerosols in the urban environment of Athens during a period of one year. The spectral transmittance due to aerosols is derived using measurements of spectral direct-beam solar irradiance in the 310–575 nm spectral band. This derivation is accomplished by using a radiative transfer model for estimating the partial spectral atmospheric transmittance functions due to Rayleigh scattering, and absorption by ozone, nitrogen dioxide and water vapor. The seasonal and diurnal variation of the aerosol transmittance is investigated and the results are discussed with a view to air pollution sources, meteorological factors and topographic characteristics of the Athens basin.     

SSBUV and NOAA-11 SBUV/2 Solar Variability Measurements

The Shuttle SBUV (SSBUV) and NOAA-11 SBUV/2 instruments measured solar spectral UV irradiance during the maximum and declining phase of solar cycle 22. The SSBUV data accurately represent the absolute solar UV irradiance between 200–405 nm, and also show the long-term variations during eight flights between October 1989 and January 1996. These data have been used to correct long-term sensitivity changes in the NOAA-11 SBUV/2 data, which provide a near-daily record of solar UV variations over the 170–400 nm region between December 1988 and October 1994. The NOAA-11 data demonstrate the evolution of short-term solar UV activity during solar cycle 22.     

Climate hypersensitivity to solar forcing?

We compare the equilibrium climate responses of a quasi-dynamical energy balance model to radiative forcing by equivalent changes in CO₂, solar total irradiance (S_tot) and solar UV (S_UV). The response is largest in the S_UV case, in which the imposed UV radiative forcing is preferentially absorbed in the layer above 250 mb, in contrast to the weak response from global-columnar radiative loading by increases in CO₂ or S_tot. The hypersensitive response of the climate system to solar UV forcing is caused by strongly coupled feedback involving vertical static stability, tropical thick cirrus ice clouds and stratospheric ozone. This mechanism offers a plausible explanation of the apparent hypersensitivity of climate to solar forcing, as suggested by analyses of recent climatic records. The model hypersensitivity strongly depends on climate parameters, especially cloud radiative properties, but is effective for arguably realistic values of these parameters. The proposed solar forcing mechanism should be further confirmed using other models (e.g., general circulation models) that may better capture radiative and dynamical couplings of the troposphere and stratosphere.     

Solar irradiance and total ozone over El Arenosillo (Spain) during the solar eclipse of 3 October 2005

The ground track of the annular eclipse of 3 October 2005 crossed the Iberian Peninsula. The main objective of this work was to analyze the variability of the solar irradiance and the total ozone column during the course of this event at El Arenosillo (Southwestern Spain). For achieving this goal, two Kipp & Zonen broadband radiometers (one for measuring total solar irradiance and other for measuring ultraviolet erythemal solar irradiance), one NILU-UV multi-band instrument and one Brewer spectroradiometer were used in this work. Total irradiance (310–2800 nm), and ultraviolet erythemal radiation (UVER) were recorded at a high frequency of 5 s, showing a strong reduction (higher than 80%) of the irradiance at the maximum solar obscuration which was of 79.6%. The irradiance decrease during the course of the eclipse was positively correlated with the percentage of eclipse obscuration, showing a very high agreement (R²～0.99). The irradiance recorded at selected wavelengths from the NILU-UV instrument shows a more pronounced decrease in the UV irradiance at the lower wavelengths during the solar eclipse. Finally, the evolution of the total ozone column (TOC) derived from Brewer and NILU instruments during the eclipse presented an opposite behavior: while the Brewer derived TOC values increase about 15 DU, the NILU derived TOC values decrease about 11 DU. This opposite behavior is mainly related to an artifact in the spectral irradiances recorded by the two instruments.     

The diffuse-to-global and diffuse-to-direct-beam spectral irradiance ratios as turbidity indexes in an urban environment

Continuous measurements of solar spectral radiation using the Multi-filter Rotating Shadow Band Radiometer (MFRSR) are performed at the Actinometric Station of the National Observatory of Athens (ASNOA). The present study utilizes three clear-sky days of continuous observations, from local sunrise to local sunset, in order to investigate the daily variation of the radiation components (diffuse, global and direct-beam) as well as their ratios (diffuse-to-global, DGR, and diffuse-to-direct-beam, DDR) under different atmospheric conditions. Both ratios have received great scientific interest, especially for investigating solar irradiance modifications under various atmospheric conditions, aerosol load and optical properties. Apart from this, the present study shows that the DDR can constitute a measure of atmospheric turbidity when it is determined at longer wavelengths, while the DGR cannot. The effect of the solar zenith angle (SZA) on both ratios is significant at the shorter wavelengths with varying sensitivities depending on the aerosol field and sun elevation. The present study confirms the results obtained by previous solar irradiance measurements in Athens and also those computed via radiative transfer codes and sheds light on the scientific knowledge of the use of spectral DDR as an atmospheric turbidity index.     

Simulation of the stratospheric ozone and temperature response to the solar irradiance variability during sun rotation cycle

Despite substantial progress in atmospheric modeling, the agreement of the simulated atmospheric response to decadal scale solar variability with the solar signal in different atmospheric quantities obtained from the statistical analysis of the observations cannot be qualified as successful. An alternative way to validate the simulated solar signal is to compare the sensitivity of the model to the solar irradiance variability on shorter time scales. To study atmospheric response to the 28-day solar rotation cycle, we used the chemistry–climate model SOCOL that represents the main physical–chemical processes in the atmosphere from the ground up to the mesopause. An ensemble simulation has been carried out, which is comprised of nine 1-year long runs, driven by the spectral solar irradiance prescribed on a daily basis using UARS SUSIM measurements for the year 1992. The correlation of zonal mean hydroxyl, ozone and temperature averaged over the tropics with solar irradiance time series have been analyzed. The hydroxyl has robust correlations with solar irradiance in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere, because the hydroxyl concentration is defined mostly by the photolysis. The simulated sensitivity of the hydroxyl to the solar irradiance changes is in good agreement with previous estimations. The ozone and temperature correlations are more complicated because their behavior depends on non-linear dynamics and transport in the atmosphere. The model simulates marginally significant ozone response to the solar irradiance variability during the Sun rotation cycle, but the simulated temperature response is not robust. The physical nature of this is not clear yet. It seems likely that the temperature (and partly the ozone) daily fields possess their own internal variability, which is not stable and can differ from year to year reflecting different dynamical states of the system.     

The diffuse-to-global spectral irradiance ratio as a cloud-screening technique for radiometric data

Continuous measurements of solar spectral radiation using the multifilter rotating shadow band radiometer (MFRSR-7) are performed at the Actinometric Station of the National Observatory of Athens (ASNOA). The present study utilizes 4 days of continuous observations, from local sunrise to sunset, in order to investigate the daily variation of the radiation components (diffuse and global) as well as their ratio (diffuse-to-global irradiance ratio, DGR) under different atmospheric conditions. DGR has received a great scientific interest, as well as the respective diffuse-to-direct-beam ratio especially for investigating solar irradiance modifications under different atmospheric conditions, aerosol load and optical properties. Apart from this, the present study shows that the DGR can also constitute a powerful tool for cloud screening, i.e. for removing perturbed data due to cloud contamination from automated sun scanning radiometers. The relationship between DGR at a specific wavelength with the respective ratio for the whole MFRSR band (300–1100 nm) is found to exhibit a curvature; this curvature is strongly modified when perturbed irradiance data (possibly caused by clouds) occur. Even though the perturbed data can also be easily identified from the diurnal irradiance variation, the present study is the first to show the effect of perturbed solar spectral data on the DGR.     

Analysis of XCO2 retrieval sensitivity using simulated Chinese Carbon Satellite (TanSat) measurements

We present a study on the retrieval sensitivity of the column-averaged dry-air mole fraction of CO₂ (XCO₂) for the Chinese carbon dioxide observation satellite (TanSat) with a full physical forward model and the optimal estimation technique. The forward model is based on the vector linearized discrete ordinate radiative transfer model (VLIDORT) and considers surface reflectance, gas absorption, and the scattering of air molecules, aerosol particles, and cloud particles. XCO₂ retrieval errors from synthetic TanSat measurements show solar zenith angle (SZA), albedo dependence with values varying from 0.3 to 1 ppm for bright land surface in nadir mode and 2 to 8 ppm for dark surfaces like snow. The use of glint mode over dark oceans significantly improves the CO₂ information retrieved. The aerosol type and profile are more important than the aerosol optical depth, and underestimation of aerosol plume height will introduce a bias of 1.5 ppm in XCO₂. The systematic errors due to radiometric calibration are also estimated using a forward model simulation approach.     

Potential effects on ozone of future supersonic aircraft/2D simulation

In a previous work, the stratospheric effect of a future supersonic aircraft fleet on ozone has been simulated, by using a photochemical diffusive 1D model and a 2D photochemical, radiative dynamical model. The fleet scenario was defined by Aerospatiale and Snecma for a current technology Mach-2 aircraft; the models were limited to simplified homogeneous phase reactions. The results indicated a global ozone decrease of about 1.5% in steady-state conditions. Now the 2D model has been upgraded and includes the classical heterogeneous reactions with Polar Strato- spheric Clouds (PSC) and aerosol. It also takes into account the natural or anthopogenic evolution of the background atmosphere. The scenario has been optimized to meet more realistic conditions. Thus, new results are presented. The main conclusion concerning the calculated impact of a realistic fleet for the next 20–50 years is still weaker than in the previous work: the decrease for the total ozone would always be lower than 0.3%. These results are commented, with the help of a parametric study, pointing out the importance of the background atmosphere and especially the total chlorine loading and the aerosol surface area.     

Validation of GOME total ozone by means of the Norwegian ozone monitoring network

The Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) onboard the ERS-2 satellite has been in operation since July 1995. The Norwegian ground-based total ozone network has played an important role both in the main validation during the commissioning phase and in the validation of upgraded versions of the analysis algorithms of the instrument. The ground-based network consists of various spectrometer types (Dobson, Brewer, UV filter instruments). The validation of the second algorithm version used until January 1998 reveals a very good agreement between GOME and ground-based data at solar zenith angles <60° and deviations of GOME total ozone data from ground-based data of up to ±60 DU (∼20%) at zenith angles ≥60°. The deviations strongly depend on the season of the year, being negative in summer and positive in winter/spring, The deviations furthermore show a considerable scattering (up to ±25 DU in monthly average values of 5° SZA intervals), even in close spatial and temporal coincidence with ground-based measurements, especially in the high Arctic. The deviations are also dependent on the viewing geometry/ground pixel size with an additional negative offset for the large pixels used in the backswath mode and at solar zenith angles ≥85°, compared to forward-swath pixels.     

Role of wave–mean flow interaction in sun–climate connections: Historical overview and some new interpretations and results

Quasi-decadal variations in solar irradiance – termed the 11-year solar cycle (SC) – have been linked to variations in a variety of atmospheric circulation features, including the polar vortex, the Brewer–Dobson circulation, and the quasi-biennial oscillation. These features share an underlying commonality: they are all rooted in wave–mean flow interaction. The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical overview of the connection between the SC and wave–mean flow interaction and to propose a more complete theoretical framework for solar modulated wave–mean flow interaction that includes both zonal-mean and zonally asymmetric ozone as intermediaries for communicating variations in solar spectral irradiance to the climate system. We solve a quasi-geostrophic model using the WKB formalism to highlight the physics connecting the SC to planetary wave-drag. Numerical results show the importance of the zonally asymmetric ozone field in mediating the effects of solar variability to the wave-driven circulation in the middle atmosphere.     

Effect of remote clouds on surface UV irradiance

Clouds affect local surface UV irradiance, even if the horizontal distance from the radiation observation site amounts to several kilometers. In order to investigate this effect, which we call remote clouds effect, a 3-dimensional radiative transfer model is applied. Assuming the atmosphere is subdivided into a quadratic based sector and its surrounding, we quantify the influence of changing cloud coverage within this surrounding from 0% to 100% on surface UV irradiance at the sector center. To work out this remote clouds influence as a function of sector base size, we made some calculations for different sizes between 10 km × 10 km and 100 km × 100 km. It appears that in the case of small sectors (base size 20 km × 20 km) the remote clouds effect is highly variable: Depending on cloud structure, solar zenith angle and wavelength, the surface UV irradiance may be enhanced up to 15% as well as reduced by more than 50%. In contrast, for larger sectors it is always the case that enhancements become smaller by 5% if sector base size exceeds 60 km × 60 km. However, these values are upper estimates of the remote cloud effects and they are found only for special cloud structures. Since these structures might occur but cannot be regarded as typical, different satellite observed cloud formations (horizontal resolution about 1 km × 1 km) have also been investigated. For these more common cloud distributions we find remote cloud effects to be distinctly smaller than the corresponding upper estimates, e.g., for a sector with base size of 25 km × 25 km the surface UV irradiance error due to ignoring the actual remote clouds and replacing their influence with periodic horizontal boundary conditions is less than 3%, whereas the upper estimate of remote clouds effect would suggest an error close to 10%.     

Statistical interpolation of ozone measurements from satellite data (TOMS, SBUV and SAGE II) using the kriging method

This study demonstrates that ordinary kriging in spherical coordinates using experimental semi-variograms provides highly usable results, especially near the pole in winter and/or where there could be data missing over large areas. In addition, kriging allows display of the spatial variability of daily ozone measurements at different pressure levels. Three satellite data sets were used: Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data, Solar Backscattered UltraViolet (SBUV), and the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II) ozone profiles. Since SBUV is a nadir-viewing instrument, measurements are only taken along the sun-synchronous polar orbits of the satellite. SAGE II is a limb-viewing solar occultation instrument, and measurements have high vertical resolution but poor daily coverage. TOMS has wider coverage with equidistant distribution of data (resolution 1° × 1.25°) but provides no vertical information. Comparisons of the resulting SBUV-interpolated (column-integrated) ozone field with TOMS data are strongly in agreement, with a global correlation of close to 98%. Comparisons of SBUV-interpolated ozone profiles with daily SAGE II profiles are relatively good, and comparable to those found in the literature. The interpolated ozone layers at different pressure levels are shown.     

The SOLAR2000 empirical solar irradiance model and forecast tool

SOLAR2000 is a collaborative project for accurately characterizing solar irradiance variability across the spectrum. A new image- and full-disk proxy empirical solar irradiance model, SOLAR2000, is being developed that is valid in the spectral range of 1–1,000,000 nm for historical modeling and forecasting throughout the solar system. The overarching scientific goal behind SOLAR2000 is to understand how the Sun varies spectrally and through time from X-ray through infrared wavelengths. This will contribute to answering key scientific questions and will aid national programmatic goals related to solar irradiance specification. SOLAR2000 is designed to be a fundamental energy input into planetary atmosphere models, a comparative model with numerical/first principles solar models, and a tool to model or predict the solar radiation component of the space environment. It is compliant with the developing International Standards Organization (ISO) solar irradiance standard. SOLAR2000 captures the essence of historically measured solar irradiances and this expands our knowledge about the quiet and variable Sun including its historical envelope of variability. The implementation of the SOLAR2000 is described, including the development of a new EUV proxy, E10.7, which has the same units as the commonly used F10.7. SOLAR2000 also provides an operational forecasting and global specification capability for solar irradiances and information can be accessed at the website address of http://www.spacenvironment.net.     

Long-term variation of solar UVB (290–330 nm) observed at the earth's surface

During solar cycle 21 (1976–86), the primary solar irradiance at 300 nm was steady during 1980–82 and thereafter decreased until 1986 by only 2–3%. The stratospheric ozone in middle latitudes had a QBO of 3–4% in this interval but the long-term ozone trend was less than 3% per decade, which could result in a UVB increase of only 5–6% per decade. Thus, the combined effect of changes in primary solar irradiance and ozone changes could be an increase of 5–6% in UVB, observed at ground during 1977–81 and a steady level during 1981–86. During 1976–86, the average cloudiness changed by less than 5% indicating UVB changes of 5% or less on this count. The aerosol level was almost constant during 1976–82 and increased abruptly in 1982 due to the E1 Chichon eruption and decayed slowly unitl 1986. Thus, due to aerosols only, the UVB was expected to be constant during 1976–82, to decrease sharply in 1982 and to recoup slowly thereafter.Measurements of clear-sky solar UVB at ground made at Jungfraujoch (Swiss Alps, 47°N, 8°E) during 1981–89 and at Rockville, USA (39°N, 77°W) were not comparable between themselves and did not follow the above expected patterns. Neither did the all-day R-B meter UVB measurements at Philadelphia, USA (40°N, 75°W) and Minneapolis, USA (45°N, 93°W). We suspect that some of these measurements are erroneous. This needs further detailed scrutiny.     

Effects of short-term solar uv variability on the stratosphere

Changes in solar ultraviolet flux produce changes in ozone concentration in the upper stratosphere with associated radiative and dynamical effects. At low latitudes, the response of ozone mixing ratio to solar UV variations on the time scale of the solar rotation period is well characterized observationally. In addition, there is some provisional evidence for an ozone response at intermediate periods of 60-80 days. Current two-dimensional stratospheric models simulate the observed 27-day response amplitudes and phase lags with reasonable accuracy in the upper stratosphere. The observed response of total ozone on the 27-day time scale is also in approximate agreement with the same models although observed ozone sensitivities and phase lags are slightly larger than expected theoretically. Future studies of the 27-day response at higher latitudes and altitudes are needed to test more completely our understanding of the direct effects of solar UV variability on the middle atmosphere.     

Error analysis of multi-wavelength sun photometry

The error terms involved in precision multi-wavelength sun photometry, as used to study atmospheric aerosols, are analyzed. The error terms treated include instrumental errors, calibration errors, and errors imposed by the atmosphere. It is shown that in order to derive accurate aerosol parameters, one must exercise great care in the photometer calibration. A procedure for accurate calibration is described, based on an intercalibration between extrapolations of the extraterrestrial solar spectral irradiance and irradiance of a standard lamp. Methods are described to assess, and reduce, uncertainties brought about by diffuse radiation in the photometer's field of view, temporal variations in aerosol optical depth, and gaseous absorption features at the operating wavelength. It is shown that if care is taken sun photometry can be used to derive monochromatic aerosol optical depth to an accuracy of several thousandths.     

大气臭氧层,紫外辐射与人类健康

本文首先评述了近数十年来大气Ｏ３层的演变,其中包括全球与中国地区及南极臭氧洞的情况,之后,评述了由此引发的达地面太阳紫外辐射强度的变化,以及对人类健康与环境的影响。