Global variations of zonal mean ozone during stratospheric warming events

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1993)050<3308:GVOZMO>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:5602576

Randel, W J ^[1]

---

1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)

Eight years of Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet ozone data are examined to study zonal mean ozone variations associated with stratospheric planetary wave (warming) events. These fluctuations are found to be nearly global in extent, with relatively large variations in the tropics, and coherent signatures reaching up to 50[degrees] in the opposite (summer) hemisphere. These ozone variations are a manifestation of the global circulation cells associated with stratospheric warming events; the ozone responds dynamically in the lower stratosphere to transport, and photochemically in the upper stratosphere to the circulation-induced temperature changes. The observed ozone variations in the tropics are of particular interest because transport is dominated by zonal-mean vertical motions (eddy flux divergences and mean meridional transports are negligible), and hence, substantial simplifications to the governing equations occur. The response of the atmosphere to these impulsive circulation changes provides a situation for robust estimates of ozone-temperature sensitivity in the upper stratosphere. 39 refs., 16 rigs.

• OSTI ID: 5602576
• Journal Information: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences; (United States) Vol. 50:19; ISSN 0022-4928; ISSN JAHSAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
BACKSCATTERING
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
LAYERS
METEOROLOGY
OZONE
OZONE LAYER
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SOLAR RADIATION
SPECTRA
STELLAR RADIATION
STRATOSPHERE
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA
VARIATIONS