On the solar/QBO effect on the interannual variability of total ozone and the stratospheric circulation over Northern Europe

Based on total ozone data from the World Ozone Data Center and stratospheric geopotential height data from the Meteorological Institute of Berlin Free University for the months of January through March for the time period of 1958–1996, the influence of the 11-year solar cycle and the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) on total ozone and the stratospheric circulation at 30 hPa over Northern Europe is investigated. The analysis is performed for different levels of solar activity. The relationship of the equatorial QBO with ozone and the stratospheric circulation over the study region exhibits unique features attributed to strong opposite connections between the equatorial zonal wind and ozone/stratospheric dynamics during periods of solar minimum and maximum. Using the Solar/QBO effect, a statistical extraction of the interannual variations of total ozone and stratospheric circulation over Northern Europe has been attempted. The variations extracted and observed for late winter show very good correspondence. The solar/QBO effect in total ozone and stratospheric dynamics over Northern Europe appears to be related to planetary wave activity.     

Ozone distribution over Mediterranean,central and southeast Europe during the International Quiet Sun Year (1964–1965)

Summary Ozone observations made during 1964 and 1965 at nine Mediterranean, central and southeast European stations (latitudes 38–52°N, longitudes 9–23°E) reveal patterns of seasonal and shorter time-variations in total ozone as well as in vertical ozone distribution. During the winter-spring season, a significant increase (20%) of ozone occurs essentially simultaneously with the spring stratospheric warming, and is noticed at all stations.—Autocorrelation coefficients show that the total ozone on any day is strongly related to the total ozone of the preceding four days in summer or one or two days in winter-spring or autumn. Changes of total ozone in southeast Europe correlate closely with those in Mediterranean Europe, and less closely with those from north central Europe.—Power spectrum analysis detects the dependence of ozone changes on processes with periods longer than 6–8 days, and indicates a significant oscillation with a period of 14–15 days, perhaps a result of the direct influence of lower stratospheric circumhemispheric circulation. — Reliable vertical ozone soundings were not available from all stations. The mean vertical profiles at Arosa, Switzerland (47°N) and Belsk, Poland (51°) are very similar. More than 60% of the variability of the total ozone is contributed by changes in ozone concentration between 10 and 24 km; less than 10% is due to variations above 33 km. Changes in ozone partial pressure at different altitudes, and relationships of those changes to total ozone, indicates that a mean vertical ozone distribution may be described adequately by considering the ozone changes in four layers: a) the troposphere, b) the lower stratosphere up to 24 km, c) a transition layer from 24 km to a variable upper border at 33–37 km, and d) the layer above 33–37 km.Part of this paper was presented at the Ozone Seminar in Potsdam, Germany, 27 September 1966.     

Six years of regular ozone soundings over Switzerland

Summary The mean vertical ozone distribution as a function of season is computed from almost 6 years of regular soundings (three times per week) over Switzerland. By comparing the concurrent mean values of the total amount with the 35-year average at Arosa, and by using the correlation between ozone concentration at different levels with the total amount, adjusted values for the seasonal variation of the vertical ozone distribution are obtained which are thought to give a better representation of the long-term climatological mean. The data show a prominent biennial variation of the ozone content around the level of the maximum concentration which does not, however, show up in the total amount because it is missing in the lower stratosphere.     

The average tropospheric ozone content and its variation with season and latitude as a result of the global ozone circulation

Evaluations of radiosonde soundings over North America and Europe, measurements aboard commercial airlines, and permanent ozone registrations at nineteen ground-based stations between Tromsö, Norway, and Hermanus, South Africa, yield three belts of higher ozone intrusion from the stratosphera and maximum values of the annual means at about 30°N, at between 40°–45°N and at about 60°N. A marked decrease of the annual mean values of the tropospheric ozone is detected towards the equator and the pole, respectively.In the northen hemisphere the maximum of the annual cycle of the tropospheric ozone concentration occurs in spring at high latitudes and in summer at mid-latitudes.For the tropical region from 30°S to 30°N a strong asymmetry of the northern and southern hemisphere occurs. This fact is discussed in detail. The higher troposphere of the tropics seems to be a wellmixed reservoir and mainly supplied with ozone from the tropopause gap region in the northern hemisphere. The ozone distribution in the lower troposphere of the whole tropics seems to be controlled by the up and down movements of the Hadley cell. The features of large-scale and seasonal variation of tropospheric ozone are discussed in connection with the ozone circulation in the stratosphere, the dynamic processes near the tropopause and the destruction rate at the earth's surface.     

Total ozone response to major geomagnetic storms and changes in meteorological situations

Summary The total ozone response to strong major geomagnetic storms (A_p≥60) in winter along the 50° N latitudinal circle is studied. The results add to the recent results of Laštovička et al. (1992) obtained for European middle latitudes (∼50°N) and to the results of Mlch (1994). A significant response of total ozone is only observed in winter under high solar activity/E-phase of QBO conditions (E-max) and seems to be caused by geomagnetic storm-induced changes of atmospheric dynamics. There are two sectors along latitude 50°N, which are sensitive to forcing by geomagnetic storms both in total ozone and the troposphere — north-eastern Atlantic-European and eastern Siberia-Aleutian sectors. The total ozone response under E-max conditions manifests itself mainly as a large decrease in the longitudinal variation of ozone after the storm, which means an increase of ozone in Europe. The observed effects in total ozone consist in redistribution, not production or loss of ozone.     

Atmospheric ozone and flow field variations over Lisbon

The results of the observations of both total and layered ozone content of the atmosphere, the latter from C wavelength Umkehr observations, made in Lisbon (38° 46N; 09° 09W) during the period 1967 to 1971 by the Serviço Meteorológico Nacional, are analysed on a statistical basis in relation to the flow and temperature fields of the atmosphere, namely in relation to the position of the tropospheric jet axis and thê 100 mb air temperature.The preliminary results of the analysis show that the yearly mean variation of the total O₃ follow the very well-known trend as observed for other geographical coordinates, with a winter to spring maximum. In addition, the same parameter is positively correlated to the 100 mb temperature field for the seasons of the year, and it was found, both on a large time-scale and for synoptic distributions, that the total amount of O₃ is significantly higher a few hundreds of kilometres to the left of the jets looking downstream than to the right, so that mean cross-flow gradients of O₃ are field features to be taken into account.The time-height distributions of ozone from the Umkehr technique has revealed, in the long-term mean used, a descent of the level of the maximum of around 20 mb depth from the summer-winter period to spring, but this descent may be much more pronounced on occasions, as revealed by the preliminary analysis of a few days' period of important ozone changes in relation to the potential temperature and jet axis position. this showed, in addition, the existence of varying gradients along the stream, whereby differences in circulation along the jet complex may be implied.Work done for the Project LF2 of the IAC     

Remote sensing of the global distribution of total ozone and the inferred upper-tropospheric circulation from Nimbus IRIS experiments

The global distribution of total ozone is derived for the period April, May, June and July of 1969 from Nimbus-3 Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) experiment. Preliminary estimates of ozone amounts from Nimbus-4 IRIS for the same period of 1970 show similar results. The standard error of estimation of total ozone from both IRIS experiments is 6% with respect to Dobson Spectrophotometer measurements. A systematic variation in the ozone distribution from April to July in the tropical, middle and polar latitudes is observed indicating the changes in the lower stratospheric circulation.The total ozone measurements show a strong correlation with the upper tropospheric geopotential height in the extratropical latitudes. From this relationship total ozone is used as a quasi-stream function to deduce geostrophic winds at the 200 mb level over extratropical regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. These winds reveal the subtropical and polar jet streams over the globe.Allied research associates.     

Prediction of the trend of total column ozone over the Tibetan Plateau

By using 2-D chemical model, the trend of total column ozone over the Tibetan Plateau is simulated. The results show that from 1980 to 1993, the total column ozone over the Tibetan Plateau decreases; after 1995, it starts to recover. But until 2050, it will not still reach the level of 1980 total column ozone. Under Tibetan special circulation, its total column ozone recovers more rapidly than zonal mean. Therefore, the Tibetan special meridional circulation is not a main reason why the total column ozone over the Tibetan Plateau decreases more strongly than zonal mean.

     

Midlatitude mesopause region winds and waves and comparison with stratospheric variability

We present time series of January–May mean mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) mean winds and planetary wave (PW) proxies over Europe together with stratospheric stationary planetary waves (SPW) at 50°N and time series of European ozone laminae occurrence. The MLT winds are connected with stratospheric PW and laminae at time scales of several years to decades. There is a tendency for increased wave activity after 1990, together with more ozone laminae and stronger MLT zonal winds. However, possible coupling processes are not straightforward. While mean MLT winds before the 1990s show similar interannual variations than stratospheric PW at 100 hPa, later a tendency towards a connection of the MLT with the middle stratosphere SPW is registered. There is also a tendency for a change in the correlation between lower and middle stratosphere SPW, indicating that coupling processes involving the European middle atmosphere from the lower stratosphere to the mesopause region have changed.     

Transport and the seasonal variation of ozone

The transport mechanisms responsible for the seasonal behavior of total ozone are deduced from the comparison of model results to stratospheric data. The seasonal transport is dominated by a combination of the diabatic circulation and transient planetary wave activity acting on a diffusively and photochemically determined background state. The seasonal variation is not correctly modeled as a diffusive process. The buildup of total ozone at high latitudes during winter is dependent upon transient planetary wave activity of sufficient strength to cause the breakdown of the polar vortex. While midwinter warmings are responsible for enhanced ozone transport to high latitudes, the final warming marking the transition from zonal mean westerlies to zonal mean easterlies is the most important event leading to the spring maximum. The final warming is not followed by reacceleration of the mean flow; so that the ozone transport associated with this event is more pronounced than that associated with midwinter warmings.     

张北地震与大气增温异常

通过对大气总温度资料的分析,认为１９９８年１月１０日张北地震前几天,震区及其周围的增温异常是一种临震前兆。异常的空间由显示,震中区及其附近为强异常区,并且被弱异常区所包围;该次地震可能是ＮＷ向的张家口－北京－蓬莱断裂带向西扩展活动所致,同时也与尚义－多伦等ＮＥ向断裂的活动有关。总温度等值线的系列演变图概略的反映出了应变能的积聚－扩展－释放的全过程。     

Estimate of the effect of the 11-year solar activity cycle on the ozone content in the stratosphere

Using spectral, cross-spectral, and regression methods, we analyzed the effect of the 11-year cycle of solar activity on the ozone content in the stratosphere and lower mesosphere via satellite measurement data obtained with the help of SBUV/SBUV2 instruments in 1978–2003. We revealed a high coherence between the ozone content and solar activity level on the solar cycle scale. In much of this area, the ozone content varies approximately in phase with the solar cycle; however, in areas of significant gradients of ozone mixing ratio in the middle stratosphere, the phase shift between ozone and solar oscillations can be considerable, up to π/2. This can be caused by dynamical processes. The altitude maxima of ozone sensitivity to the 11-year solar cycle were found in the upper vicinity of the stratopause (50–55 km), in the middle stratosphere (35–40 km), and the lower stratosphere (below 25 km). Maximal changes in ozone content in the solar cycle (up to 10% and more) were found in winter and spring in polar regions.     

Solar response in the vertical structure of ozone and temperature in the tropical stratosphere

The aim of the present paper is to study the solar response in the vertical structure of ozone and temperature over the Indian tropical region and a search for any mutual relationship between their solar coefficients on a decadal scale in the lower stratosphere. For the purpose, the data obtained by ozonesonde and Umkehr methods for the lower stratospheric ozone and that of the total ozone amount from Dobson spectrophotometer during the period 1979–2001 have been analyzed. These data are analyzed using the multi-functional regression model, which takes into account most of the known natural and anthropogenic signals. The NCEP- and MSU-satellite data for the temperature over this region have been used. Results indicate an in-phase correlation of around 0.5 between ozone and solar flux (F10.7) in the vertical structure over the equatorial station, Trivandrum (8.3°N) but no significant correlation over Pune (18.3°N). The solar components of ozone and temperature indicate an in-phase but poor correlation in the lower stratospheric altitudes over both stations. However, when total ozone content data is analyzed, it indicates a very high correlation (⩾0.9) between the solar components of ozone and temperature. The solar trend in the vertical distribution of ozone is found to be of the order of 5–25% per 100 units of F10.7 solar flux for Trivandrum but it is relatively smaller (1.6–15.2%) over Pune. The solar dependence of temperature is found to be quite significant for the entire Indian tropical region with not much latitudinal variation.     

Causes and consequences of pressurisation in lava dome eruptions

High total and fluid pressures develop in the interior of high-viscosity lava domes and in the uppermost parts of the feeding conduit system as a consequence of degassing. Two effects are recognised and are modelled quantitatively. First, large increases in magma viscosity result from degassing during magma ascent. Strong vertical gradients in viscosity result and large excess pressures and pressure gradients develop at the top of the conduit and in the dome. Calculations of conduit flow show that almost all the excess pressure drop from the chamber in an andesitic dome eruption occurs during the last several hundred metres of ascent. Second, microlites grow in the melt phase as a consequence of undercooling caused by gas loss. Rapid microlite growth can cause large excess fluid pressures to develop at shallow levels. Theoretically closed-system microlite crystallization can increase local pressure by a few tens of MPa, although build up of pressure will be countered by gas loss through permeable flow and expansion by viscous flow. Microlite crystallization is most effective in causing excess gas pressures at depths of a few hundred metres in the uppermost parts of the conduit and dome interior. Some of the major phenomena of lava dome eruptions can be attributed to these pressurisation effects, including spurts of growth, cycles of dome growth and subsidence, sudden onset of violent explosive activity and disintegration of lava during formation of pyroclastic flows. The characteristic shallow-level, long-period and hybrid seismicity, characteristic of dome eruptions, is attributed to the excess fluid pressures, which are maintained close to the fracture strength of the dome and wallrock, resulting in fluid movement during formation of tensile and shear fractures within the dome and upper conduit.     

The global distribution of long-term total ozone variations during the period 1957–1975

Total ozone observations in the international network have been used as a basis for the analysis of the mean monthly ozone distribution over the globe for the period 1957–75. It has been found that during the period 1961–70 the total ozone amount increased in the Northern Hemisphere by about 12 percent and that this increase seems to be significant at all latitudes. Although the data were sparse for the Southern Hemisphere, there did not appear to be any significant ozone changes during the 10 year period. Relatively large geographic variations were found in the ozone trends and it is suggested that these variations are related to large scale changes in the atmospheric circular pattern.     

Large-scale ionospheric gradients over Europe observed in October 2003

It is well known that ionospheric perturbations are characterised by strong horizontal gradients and rapid changes of the ionisation. Thus, space weather induced severe ionosphere perturbations can cause serious technological problems in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS. During the severe ionosphere storm period of 29–31 October 2003, reported were several significant malfunctions due to the adverse effects of the ionosphere perturbations such as interruption of the WAAS service and degradation of mid-latitudes GPS reference services. To properly warn service users of such effects, a quick evaluation of the current signal propagation conditions expressed in a suitable ionospheric perturbation index would be of great benefit. Preliminary results of a comparative study of ionospheric gradients including vertical sounding and Total Electron Content (TEC) data are presented. Strong enhancements of latitudinal gradients and temporal changes of the ionisation are observed over Europe during the 29–30 October storm period. The potential use of spatial gradients and rate of change of foF2 and TEC characterising the actual perturbation degree of the ionosphere is discussed. It has been found that perturbation induced spatial gradients of TEC and foF2 strongly enhance during the ionospheric storm on 29 October over the Central European region in particular in North–South direction exceeding the gradients in East–West direction by a factor of 2.     

Studies of variations in the vertical ozone profiles over India

The latitudinal and temporal variations in the vertical profiles of ozone over the Indian subcontinent are discussed. In the equatorial atmosphere represented by Trivandrum (8°N) and Poona (18°N), while tropospheric ozone shows marked seasonal variations, the basic pattern of the vertical distribution of ozone in the stratosphere remains practically unchanged throughout the year, with a maximum at about 28 to 26 km and a minimum just below the tropopause. The maximum total ozone occurs over Trivandrum in the summer monsoon season and the latitudinal anomaly observed over the Indian monsoon area at this time is explained as arising from the horizontal transport of ozone-rich stratospheric air from over the thermal equator to the southern regions.In the higher latitudes represented by New Delhi (28°N), the maximum occurs at 23 km. Delhi, which lies in the temperate regime in winter, shows marked day-to-day variations in association with western disturbances and the strong westerly jet stream that lies over north and central India at this time.Although the basic pattern of the vertical distribution of ozone in the equatorial atmosphere is generally the same in all seasons, significant though small changes occur in the lower stratosphere and in the troposphere. There are small perturbations in the ozone and temperature structures, distinct ozone maxima being always associated with temperature inversions. There are also large perturbances not related to temperature, ozone-depleted regions normally reflecting a stratification of either destructive processes or materials such as dust layers or clouds at these levels. Particularly interesting are the upper tropospheric levels just below the tropopause where the ozone concentration is consistently the smallest, in all seasons and at all places where soundings have been made in India.     

中国南部对流层中上层臭氧增加的气象场判识及臭氧变化的多尺度特征

副热带急流对中国南部地区对流层中上层臭氧浓度的影响程度及地理范围目前还研究较少,且缺乏综合使用常规气象资料及卫星资料来判识对流层中上层臭氧浓度增高的方法.本文利用NCEP再分析与最终分析资料、日本GMS-5地球静止卫星水汽云图资料,以2001年3月27~29日中国南部的临安、昆明、香港臭氧探测个例为基础,结合1996年3月29日香港与2001年4月13日临安对流层中上层高浓度臭氧分布个例对副热带急流对中国南部对流层中上层臭氧浓度的影响进行了详细分析,提出根据气象要素场判识春季中国南部对流层中上层臭氧浓度增高的充分条件为根据卫星水汽图像上的暗区、高空急流入口区的左侧辐合区、高空锋区、对流层中上层≥1 PVU的向下伸展的舌状高位涡区来综合判断.本文的分析结果表明,本文个例中对流层中上层高浓度臭氧来自平流层;香港对流层中上层低浓度臭氧来自热带海洋地区.不仅臭氧垂直廓线的多个极小与极大值表明臭氧垂直分布的多尺度变化特征,而且对流层中上层PV分布以及卫星水汽图像分析也表明大气中的多尺度运动对臭氧垂直分布特征有显著影响.本文的结果表明与副热带高空急流相联系的平流层空气侵入不仅发生在中国大陆的较高纬度地区,较低纬度的昆明与香港地区也有平流层空气侵入导致对流层中上层臭氧浓度升高.     

Ozone distribution in winter at high latitudes in the northern hemisphere

The ozone winter maximum at high latitudes in the northern hemisphere is not evenly distributed along the longitudes. This is mainly due to the upper air circulation, both horizontally and vertically. In addition it is also strongly influenced by the largest mountain ranges. During the last two decades the air circulation in the North Atlantic has intensified. This has led to ascending motion in the upper troposphere and the lower stratosphere, which in turn has resulted in a reduced total ozone column in Northwest Europe.The large mounter ranges in Asia are initiating standing waves, with descending motions in the atmosphere behind the mountains. The descending motion leads to adiabatic warming of the lower stratosphere and the upper troposphere. Ozone-rich air is transported downwards to lower levels and stored there, where the ozone is less affected by heterogeneous chemical destruction.