Ozone profile measurements at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, during the spring of 1987

Journal Article · Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD094iD14p16527· OSTI ID:7129255

Hofmann, D J; Harder, J W; Rosen, J M; Hereford, J V; Carpenter, J R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie (United States)

Ozone and temperature profiles were measured in 50 balloon flights at McMurdo Station (78{degree}S) during the spring of 1987. Compared to similar data obtained in 1986, stratospheric temperatures were lower and the springtime Antarctic ozone reduction was greater in magnitude, extended to higher altitude, and proceeded at a higher rate in 1987. Ozone partial pressures reached values as low as 3 nbar (as compared to about 10 nbar in 1986) in the 16- to 18-km region in early and late October, down from about 150 nbar in late August. These low values suggest essentially complete removal of ozone in this region. The upper boundary of the depletion region was observed to be 2-3 km higher than in 1986, extending to altitudes as high as 24 km in mid-September. When averaged over September, the ozone mixing ratio at 18 km decayed with a half-life of only 12.4 days, as compared to about 28 days in 1986. Adiabatic vertical motions over 1- to 2-km intervals between 12 and 20 km with consequent ozone reductions were observed in association with the formation of nacreous clouds, indicating these to be rare events on a local scale probably associated with mountain lee waves.

• OSTI ID: 7129255
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 94:D14; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
OZONE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
STRATOSPHERE
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
ANTARCTICA
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BALLOONS
CLOUDS
CORRELATIONS
HOLES
LOSSES
MIXING
OZONE LAYER
PARTIAL PRESSURE
AIRSHIPS
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
LAYERS
POLAR REGIONS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
290301 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)