skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Fluctuations of total ozone and their relationship to stratospheric air motions

Abstract

Satellite measurements reveal the distribution of ozone column abundance to be complex and highly dynamic, with fluctuations as large as 100% common in both hemispheres. Observations of total ozone from Numbus 7 total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) together with contemporaneous analyses of the circulation are used to investigate the origin of these fluctuations. A large component of total ozone variability is explained by quasi-columnar motion of air along isentropic surfaces in the lower stratosphere. The vertical component of such motion introduces anomalous column abundance through compression and expansion, which alters the ozone number density of individual bodies of air. This process leads to a high correlation between the total ozone and the elevation of isentropic surfaces in the lower stratosphere. The horizontal component of column-averaged motion introduces anomalous total ozone by rearanging the distribution of column-averaged ozone mixing ratio, which can be derived from TOMS measurements and contemporaneous isentropic analyses. Quasi-conserved, column-averaged ozone mixing ratio is well correlated with equivalent barotropic potential vorticity, which is a tracer of column-averaged motion. In fact, anomalies of column-averaged mixing ratio created during major warmings can be tracked intact and coincident with companion anomalies in the circulation for as long as 3 weeks. Becausemore » it follows from observations of tracer behavior, column-averaged ozone mixing ratio may provide a more detailed picture of air motions in the lower stratosphere than is possible from potential vorticity, which must be derived largely from temperature observations. Together with contemporaneous cloud imagery, TOMS observations also reveal interactions with tropospheric convection, which result in a loss and, ultimately, the destruction of stratospheric ozone. 17 refs., 1 fig.« less

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6700955
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 98:D2; Journal ID: ISSN 0148-0227
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; OZONE; DENSITY; FLUCTUATIONS; SATELLITES; REMOTE SENSING; ABUNDANCE; AIR; BEHAVIOR; COMPRESSION; CONVECTION; DISTRIBUTION; EXPANSION; MAPPING; MIXING RATIO; MOTION; ORIGIN; STRATOSPHERE; SURFACES; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; ENERGY TRANSFER; EVALUATION; FLUIDS; GASES; HEAT TRANSFER; MASS TRANSFER; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; VARIATIONS; 540120* - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-); 540110

Citation Formats

Salby, M L, and Callaghan, P F. Fluctuations of total ozone and their relationship to stratospheric air motions. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.1029/92JD01814.
Salby, M L, & Callaghan, P F. Fluctuations of total ozone and their relationship to stratospheric air motions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD01814
Salby, M L, and Callaghan, P F. 1993. "Fluctuations of total ozone and their relationship to stratospheric air motions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD01814.
@article{osti_6700955,
title = {Fluctuations of total ozone and their relationship to stratospheric air motions},
author = {Salby, M L and Callaghan, P F},
abstractNote = {Satellite measurements reveal the distribution of ozone column abundance to be complex and highly dynamic, with fluctuations as large as 100% common in both hemispheres. Observations of total ozone from Numbus 7 total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) together with contemporaneous analyses of the circulation are used to investigate the origin of these fluctuations. A large component of total ozone variability is explained by quasi-columnar motion of air along isentropic surfaces in the lower stratosphere. The vertical component of such motion introduces anomalous column abundance through compression and expansion, which alters the ozone number density of individual bodies of air. This process leads to a high correlation between the total ozone and the elevation of isentropic surfaces in the lower stratosphere. The horizontal component of column-averaged motion introduces anomalous total ozone by rearanging the distribution of column-averaged ozone mixing ratio, which can be derived from TOMS measurements and contemporaneous isentropic analyses. Quasi-conserved, column-averaged ozone mixing ratio is well correlated with equivalent barotropic potential vorticity, which is a tracer of column-averaged motion. In fact, anomalies of column-averaged mixing ratio created during major warmings can be tracked intact and coincident with companion anomalies in the circulation for as long as 3 weeks. Because it follows from observations of tracer behavior, column-averaged ozone mixing ratio may provide a more detailed picture of air motions in the lower stratosphere than is possible from potential vorticity, which must be derived largely from temperature observations. Together with contemporaneous cloud imagery, TOMS observations also reveal interactions with tropospheric convection, which result in a loss and, ultimately, the destruction of stratospheric ozone. 17 refs., 1 fig.},
doi = {10.1029/92JD01814},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6700955}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)},
issn = {0148-0227},
number = ,
volume = 98:D2,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}