Ozone and temperature changes in the lower stratosphere

The vertical profiles of ozone and temperature from a series of balloon soundings at Delhi (28°N), Poona (18°N) and Trivandrum (8°N) were studied with synoptic meteorological data. While both ozone and temperature profiles show similar variations over all three stations, ozone maxima being always associated with thermally stable layers, the variations are most pronounced over Delhi, particularly in winter and in early spring when a series of western disturbances pass over north India. Both ozone and temperature profiles over Delhi show a layer structure characterized by a series of maxima and minima in both the vertical distribution of ozone and temperature and these are most pronounced in the lower stratosphere. These variations are associated with the influx of ozone-rich middle latitude stratospheric air over Delhi replacing subtropical air.