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NASA, other agencies, give high priority to detection of global trends in ozone

Journal Article · · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6084175

During the fall of 1986, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Upper Atmosphere Programs Office in conjunction with the World meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), launched a major activity to review the subject of ozone trend detection and report the findings by the end of 1987. The Ozone Trends Panel composed of eminent scientists in atmospheric science and related fields from federal agencies, research institutions, private industry, and universities was selected and met in mid-December 1986 at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to begin their work. Because ozone depletion is a global problem and not limited by national boundaries, other scientific organizations and international agencies also expressed interest in the project and were approached to cosponsor this activity. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) joined as U.S. cosponsors. Preliminary analysis of Nimbus 7 satellite Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SBUV) data indicated that the both the total column and vertical distribution of ozone have changed significantly, of the order of several percent since 1979. A decrease was reported in the total column content as well as in the vertical distribution in the middle and upper stratosphere. Further analysis of the data indicates that most of the change has occurred since 1981. Examination of the ground-based Dobson data also seems to indicate that ozone has decreased globally since 1979.

OSTI ID:
6084175
Journal Information:
J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 37:8; ISSN JPCAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English