Ozone variation in the lower stratosphere and its mechanism

Seasonal variations of ozone are studied by taking into consideration both photochemical and dynamical processes. Assuming that the seasonal variations of total ozone amounts are linear combinations of photochemical equilibrium variations and those due to atmospheric motions, the observed variations of the total ozone amount seem reasonably to be explained.The concept mentioned above implies that the time scale of ozone might be rather short in the lower stratosphere. The order of the half restoration time was estimated to be 10 to 10² days in the lower stratosphere. Thus the estimated time scale of ozone must be somewhat longer than that of the temperature in the lower stratosphere, of which variation usually shows its maximum in the midwinter in middle latitudes, while that of ozone shows its maximum in the late winter or early spring. As the maximum values of both quantities would appear in the early summer without air motions, the similarity in the phase differences of temperature and ozone suggests the validity of the concept of this paper.     

Systems modelling of stratospheric ozone transport and photochemistry

A scheme of a system of physical and chemical processes controlling the production, transport and destruction of ozone and its gaseous catalysts, as well as other related gases in the low and high stratosphere is presented. An account is made of temperature variations of the stratospheric layer resulting from changes in ozone content; also included is the effect of temperature variations on photochemical reaction rates and ozone and other gases transport between atmospheric layers. Parameters describing major relations of the system are inferred from the analysis of ozone and trace gas data and from the results of model calculations of interdependence between variations in temperature and ozone content of the layer.An analysis of minor fluctuations of the linearized system shows that photochemical processes are responsible for its aperiodic stability and that gas transport between atmospheric layers destabilizes the system.     

The effects of water vapour and oxides of nitrogen on ozone and temperature structure of the stratosphere

Summary A steady-state mean meridional model of the stratosphere is used to investigate the effects of water vapour and nitrogen oxides on ozone and temperature distributions in the stratosphere. The Chapman classical photochemical scheme for ozone is extended to include the dominant reactions involving hydrogen compounds and nitrogen oxides. The ozone and temperature changes are studied under radiative-photochemical equilibrium conditions and in a model incorporating both transport and radiative-photochemical processes. It is found that both hydrogen and nitrogen reactions contribute to substantial decreases in ozone and temperature under photochemical equilibrium conditions, but the computed distribution do not resemble those observed. The effect of transport processes is to reduce the deviations in the ozone mixing ratio and temperature with the computed distributions having many features in common with the observations. It is found that the ozone and temperature respond more readily to the arbitrary increase of nitrogen oxides than to that of water vapour.     

Influence of the vertical motion field on ozone concentration in the stratosphere

Computations of the mean meridional motion field in the stratosphere are applied to ozone distributions to evaluate the associated ozone concentration changes. These changes are compared with those produced by photochemical and quasi-horizontal eddy processes. For the period January–April 1964 there is a cooperative action between the mean and eddy motions with mean subsidence in middle latitudes supplying ozone to be carried polawards and equatorwards by quasi-horizontal eddy processes. At low latitudes mean horizontal motions offset the eddy transport while at high latitudes mean rising motion is the offsetting term. The mean ozone flux through 50 mb, 3.5×10²⁹ molecules sec^–1, is comparable with the fluxes evaluated by other techniques.The spring maximum is thought to be due to a modulation of the energy supply to the stratospheric eddies which, in turn, force the mean motions. Longer-term changes are to be expected; for example during Ice Ages when increased tropospheric eddy activity is anticipated there should be higher total ozone.     

Further ozone transport calculations and the spring maximum in ozone amount

Summary Calculations of the covariance between ozone amounts and meridional wind in the lower stratosphere are presented for all stations in the northern hemisphere for the IGY-IGC. Northward ozone transport occurs by large-scale quasi-horizontal transient and standing eddies and the transport is a maximum early in the year. It is suggested that the transport is governed by the exchange of energy between the troposphere and stratosphere and data are presented on the energy transformations within the lower stratosphere and the transfer of energy into the region which support this suggestion. The vertical flux of energy is also calculated from tropospheric data and its seasonal changes are seen to be in the correct phase to explain the spring maximum in ozone amount.The research reported in this article was sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission under Contract AT (30-1)2241.     

平流层O3、O动力系统的平衡性质及南极平流层O3季节变化规律的研究

本文首次利用常微分方程定性理论对平流层O₃、O动力系统的平衡性质进行了讨论.结果表明,如果在平流层O₃的主要分布高度内,大气扩散作用小于光化学作用,那么平流层的O₃层处于稳定状态;反之,平流层的O₃层将遭到破坏.利用这一机制,我们可以解释南极平流层O₃的季度变化规律和每年9-10月份出现的南极O₃洞.     

Evidence for vertical ozone redistribution since 1967

Long-term measurements of the ozone concentration in the vicinity of the city of Berlin have been performed with ground based Dobson spectrophotometers and balloon borne systems. The respective experiments cover the past 24 years. All data have been reevaluated and corrected towards uniform calibration standards, leading to the longest European data set of total column density, altitude-dependent ozone partial pressures and the corresponding temperatures. Smoothing algorithms unravel significant long-term trends.The analysis shows an increase of ozone concentration within the middle stratosphere (below 31 km height) as well as in the troposphere over the past 24 years. On the contrary, ongoing ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere has been found.The large scale vertical redistribution of atmospheric ozone in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere seems to be in agreement with model calculations and trend predictions that have their roots in changes of the chemical composition and the ozone photochemistry due to anthropogenically induced trace gas concentrations.Deutscher Wetterdienst, Meteorologisches Observatorium Potsdam.Deutscher Wetterdienst, Meteorologisches Observatorium Lindenberg.     

Annual and semiannual oscillations of stratospheric ozone

The global structures of annual oscillation (AO) and semiannual oscillation (SAO) of stratospheric ozone are examined by applying spherical harmonic analysis to the ozone data obtained from the Nimbus-7 solar backscattered UV-radiation (SBUV) measurements for the period November 1978 to October 1980. Significant features of the results are: (1) while the stratospheric ozone AO is prevalent only in the polar regions, the ozone SAO prevails both in the equatorial and polar stratospheres; (2) the vertical distribution of the equatorial ozone SAO has a broad maximum of the order of 0.5 (mixing ratio in g/g) and the maximum appears earlier at high altitude (shifting from May [and November] at 0.3 mb [60 km] to November [and May] at 40 mb); (3) above the 40 km level, the maximum of the polar ozone SAO shifts upward towards later phase with altitude with a rate of approximately 10 km/month in both hemispheres; (4) vertical distributions of the polar ozone AOs and SAOs show two peaks in amplitude with a minimum (nodal layer) in between and a rapid phase change with altitude takes place in the respective nodal layers; and (5) the heights of the ozone AO- and SAO-peaks decrease with latitude. The main part of AOs and SAOs of stratospheric ozone including hemispheric asymmetries is ascribable to: (i) temperature dependent ozone photochemistry in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere, (ii) variations of radiation field in the lower stratosphere affected by the annual cycle of solar illumination and temperature in the upper stratosphere and (iii) meridional ozone transport by dynamical processes in the lower stratosphere.     

Ozone depletion in the plume of a solid-fueled rocket

The local effects of the emission of a solid-fueled rocket on the stratospheric ozone concentration have been investigated by photochemical model calculations. A one-dimensional horizontal model has been applied which calculates the trace gas composition at a single atmospheric altitude spatially resolved around the exhaust plume. Different cases were tested for the emissions of the Space Shuttle concerning the composition of the exhaust and the effects of heterogeneous reactions on atmospheric background aerosol.The strongest depletion of ozone is achieved when a high amount of the emitted chlorine is Cl₂. If it is purely HCl, the effect is smallest, though in this case the heterogeneous reactions show their largest influence. From the results it may be estimated whether ozone depletion caused by rocket launches can be detected by satellite instruments. It appears that the chance of coincidental detection of such an event is rather small.     

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.     

A discussion of the chemistry of some minor constituents in the stratosphere and troposphere

A discussion is given of atmospheric reactions in the H₂O–CH₄–O₂–O₃–NO _x system. In the lower troposphere such reactions may lead to significant production of ozone. Their role in the odd hydrogen balance, especially of the troposphere and lower stratosphere, is discussed. CH₃OH may be an intermediate in the oxidation cycle of methane, especially in the cold stratosphere. Its photodissociation into H₂ and CH₂O may consequently provide an important source for stratospheric H₂. Catalytic photochemical chains of reactions involving NO _x and HO _x may also lead to tropospheric destruction of ozone. Due to lack of knowledge it is not possible at present to evaluate the importance of the before-mentioned reactions.With the aid of model calculations it is indicated that stratospheric ozone is most sensitive to changes in the adopted lower boundary values of N₂O and that an increase in water vapour concentrations in the lower stratosphere will indeed cause some increase in ozone as predicted.Fluctuations in the flux of solar radiation near 190 nm may cause significant variations in stratospheric ozone concentrations.     

Impact of coupled perturbations of atmospheric trace gases on Earth's climate and ozone

We have studied the effects on the ozone concentration and surface temperature, of perturbations in the atmospheric content of nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). The sensitivity study has been carried out with a radiative-convective-photochemical model. The doubling of carbon dioxide concentration has the effect of warming the troposphere and cooling the stratosphere. As a result of this cooling, the change of ozone columnar density produced by 10 ppb of chlorine amount to 9.3% as compared to –10.9% obtained without temperature feedback. Perturbation in nitrous oxide correspond to an increase in NO _x of the stratosphere with consequent ozone reduction while doubling the methane concentration correspond to a slight increase in columnar density. The effect of the increased methane concentration in the stratosphere contributes to reduce the effect of CFC due to the enhanced formation of HCl. The perturbation of these two minor constituents appreciably increase the greenhouse effect to 2.30 from 1.67°, obtained when carbon dioxide alone is considered.     

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.     

Influence of the Precipitating Energetic Particles on Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate

We evaluate the influence of the galactic cosmic rays (GCR), solar proton events (SPE), and energetic electron precipitation (EEP) on chemical composition of the atmosphere, dynamics, and climate using the chemistry-climate model SOCOL. We have carried out two 46-year long runs. The reference run is driven by a widely employed forcing set and, for the experiment run, we have included additional sources of NO _x and HO _x caused by all considered energetic particles. The results show that the effects of the GCR, SPE, and EEP fluxes on the chemical composition are most pronounced in the polar mesosphere and upper stratosphere; however, they are also detectable and statistically significant in the lower atmosphere consisting of an ozone increase up to 3?% in the troposphere and ozone depletion up to 8?% in the middle stratosphere. The thermal effect of the ozone depletion in the stratosphere propagates down, leading to a warming by up to 1?K averaged over 46?years over Europe during the winter season. Our results suggest that the energetic particles are able to affect atmospheric chemical composition, dynamics, and climate.     

青藏高原上空UTLS区域一次地形重力波过程中的物质上传

利用美国航空航天局MERRA(Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications)再分析资料和MODIS(Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)卫星资料以及欧洲气象中心ECMWF-Interim(European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts)再分析资料,分析了发生于青藏高原北侧上空的一次地形重力波事件,并使用中尺度预报模式WRF-ARW.V3.0(Weather Research and Forecasting model,V3.0)对其进行了数值模拟.在此基础上,诊断分析了此次地形重力波在UTLS(Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere)区域造成的物质和能量垂直传输特征.分析结果表明这一中尺度地形重力波信号的水平波长约为600km,与地形扰动水平尺度接近,重力波在对流层中传播的垂直波长约为3km,在垂直方向上随着高度的增加呈现出由东向西倾斜的结构特征.此次地形重力波上传进入平流层并在150hPa附近破碎,波破碎后动量通量在短时间内发生了强烈的衰减,重力波携带的能量在破碎高度附近释放.重力波破碎的同时垂直方向湍流混合变得异常强烈,湍流交换系数可在短时间内增加到背景值的8倍以上,剧烈湍流混合过程导致了对流层上层的空气进入平流层,使下平流层空气出现了位势涡度和臭氧的低值区,在浮力频率的垂直剖面中也可以看到由于地形重力波过程造成的平流层下层浮力频率异常低值区.     

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.     

Inertia gravity wave activity in the troposphere and lower stratosphere observed by Wuhan MST radar

The troposphere and lower stratosphere (TLS) is a region with active atmospheric fluctuations. The Wuhan Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radar is the first MST radar to have become operational in Mainland China. It is dedicated to real-time atmospheric observations. In this paper, two case studies about inertia gravity waves (IGWs) derived from three-dimensional wind field data collected with the Wuhan MST radar are presented. The intrinsic frequencies, vertical wavelengths, horizontal wavelengths, vertical wavenumber spectra, and energy density are calculated and analyzed. In this paper, we also report on multiple waves existing in the lower stratosphere observed by the Wuhan MST radar. Lomb-Scargle spectral analysis and the hodograph method were used to derive the vertical wavenumber and propagation direction. Meanwhile, an identical IGW is observed by Wuhan MST radar both in troposphere and lower stratosphere regions. Combining the observations, the source of the latter IGW detected in the TLS would be the jet streams located in the tropopause region, which also produced wind shear above and below the tropopause.     

Stratospheric background aerosol and polar cloud observations by laser backscattersonde within the framework of the European project “Stratospheric Regular Sounding”

The Stratospheric Regular Sounding project was planned to measure regularly the vertical profiles of several tracers like ozone, water vapor, NO_x, ClO_x and BrO_x radicals, aerosol, pressure and temperature, at three latitudes, to discriminate between the transport and photochemical terms which control their distribution. As part of this project, the “Istituto di Fisica dell’Atmosfera” launched nine laser backscattersondes (LABS) on board stratospheric balloons to make observations of background aerosol and PSCs. LABS was launched with an optical particle counter operated by the University of Wyoming. Observations have been performed in the arctic, mid-latitudes and tropical regions in different seasons. Polar stratospheric clouds have been observed in areas inside and outside the polar vortex edge. A background aerosol was observed both in mid-latitudes and in arctic regions with a backscattering ratio of 1.2 at 692 nm. Very stratified aerosol layers, possibly transported into the lower stratosphere by deep convective systems, have been observed in the lower stratosphere between 20 and 29 km in the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere.