To provide observational evidence on the extratropical cross‐tropopause transport between the stratosphere and the troposphere via quasi‐isentropic processes in the middleworld (the part of the ...atmosphere in which the isentropic surfaces intersect the tropopause), this report presents an analysis of the seasonal variations of the ozone latitudinal distribution in the isentropic layer between 330 K and 380 K based on the measurements from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II. The results from SAGE II data analysis are consistent with (1) the buildup of ozone‐rich air in the extratropical middleworld through the large‐scale descending mass circulation during winter, (2) the spread of ozone‐rich air in the isentropic layer from midlatitudes to subtropics via quasi‐isentropic transport during spring, (3) significant photochemical ozone removal and the absence of an ozone‐rich supply of air to the layer during summer, and (4) air mass exchange between the subtropics and the extratropics during the summer monsoon period. Thus the SAGE II observed ozone seasonal variations in the middle‐world are consistent with the existing model calculated annual cycle of the diabatic circulation as well as the conceptual role of the eddy quasi‐adiabatic transport in the stratosphere‐troposphere exchange reported in the literature.
Methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3, 1,1,1,-trichloroethane) was used widely as a solvent before it was recognized to be an ozone-depleting substance and its phase-out was introduced under the Montreal ...Protocol. Subsequently, its atmospheric concentration has declined steadily and recent European methyl chloroform consumption and emissions were estimated to be less than 0.1 gigagrams per year. However, data from a short-term tropospheric measurement campaign (EXPORT) indicated that European methyl chloroform emissions could have been over 20 gigagrams in 2000 (ref. 6), almost doubling previously estimated global emissions. Such enhanced emissions would significantly affect results from the CH3CC13 method of deriving global abundances of hydroxyl radicals (OH) (refs 7-12)-the dominant reactive atmospheric chemical for removing trace gases related to air pollution, ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect. Here we use long-term, high-frequency data from Mace Head, Ireland and Jungfraujoch, Switzerland, to infer European methyl chloroform emissions. We find that European emission estimates declined from about 60 gigagrams per year in the mid-1990s to 0.3-1.4 and 1.9-3.4 gigagrams per year in 2000-03, based on Mace Head and Jungfraujoch data, respectively. Our European methyl chloroform emission estimates are therefore higher than calculated from consumption data, but are considerably lower than those derived from the EXPORT campaign in 2000 (ref. 6).
Results from two retrieval algorithms, o3-aer and o3-mlr , used for SAGE III solar occultation ozone measurements in the stratosphere and upper troposphere are compared. The main differences between ...these two retrieved (version 3.0) ozone are found at altitudes above 40 km and below 15 km. Compared to correlative measurements, the SAGE II type ozone retrievals (o3-aer) provide better precisions above 40 km and do not induce artificial hemispheric differences in upper stratospheric ozone. The multiple linear regression technique (o3_mlr), however, can yield slightly more accurate ozone (by a few percent) in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere. By using SAGE III (version 3.0) ozone from both algorithms and in their preferred regions, the agreement between SAGE III and correlative measurements is shown to be approx.5% down to 17 km. Below 17 km SAGE III ozone values are systematically higher, by 10% at 13 km, and a small hemispheric difference (a few percent) appears. Compared to SAGE III and HALOE, SAGE II ozone has the best accuracy in the lowest few kilometers of the stratosphere. Estimated precision in SAGE III ozone is about 5% or better between 20 and 40 km and approx.10% at 50 km. The precision below 20 km is difficult to evaluate because of limited coincidences between SAGE III and sondes. SAGE III ozone values are systematically slightly larger (2-3%) than those from SAGE II but the profile shapes are remarkably similar for altitudes above 15 km. There is no evidence of any relative drift or time dependent differences between these two instruments for altitudes above 15-20 km.
Upper-stratospheric ozone trends 1979-1998 Newchurch, M. J.; Bishop, Lane; Cunnold, Derek ...
Journal of Geophysical Research, Washington, DC,
16 June 2000, Letnik:
105, Številka:
D11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Extensive analyses of ozone observations between 1978 and 1998 measured by Dobson Umkehr, Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) I and II, and Solar Backscattered Ultraviolet (SBUV) and ...(SBUV)/2 indicate continued significant ozone decline throughout the extratropical upper stratosphere from 30–45 km altitude. The maximum annual linear decline of −0.8±0.2 % yr−1 (2σ) occurs at 40 km and is well described in terms of a linear decline modulated by the 11‐year solar variation. The minimum decline of −0.1±0.1% yr−1 (2σ) occurs at 25 km in midlatitudes, with remarkable symmetry between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at 40 km altitude. Midlatitude upper‐stratospheric zonal trends exhibit significant seasonal variation (±30% in the Northern Hemisphere, ±40% in the Southern Hemisphere) with the most negative trends of −1.2% yr−1 occurring in the winter. Significant seasonal trends of −0.7 to −0.9% yr−1 occur at 40 km in the tropics between April and September. Subjecting the statistical models used to calculate the ozone trends to intercomparison tests on a variety of common data sets yields results that indicate the standard deviation between trends estimated by 10 different statistical models is less than 0.1% yr−1 in the annual‐mean trend for SAGE data and less than 0.2% yr−1 in the most demanding conditions (seasons with irregular, sparse data) World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 1998. These consistent trend results between statistical models together with extensive consistency between the independent measurement‐system trend observations by Dobson Umkehr, SAGE I and II, and SBUV and SBUV/2 provide a high degree of confidence in the accuracy of the declining ozone amounts reported here. Additional details of ozone trend results from 1978 to 1996 (2 years shorter than reported here) along with lower‐stratospheric and tropospheric ozone trends, extensive intercomparisons to assess relative instrument drifts, and retrieval algorithm details are given by WMO 1998.
Determination of the atmospheric concentrations and lifetime of trichloroethane (CH(3)CCI(3)) is very important in the context of global change. This halocarbon is involved in depletion of ozone, and ...the hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations determined from its lifetime provide estimates of the lifetimes of most other hydrogen-containing gases involved in the ozone layer and climate. Global measurements of trichloroethane indicate rising concentrations before and declining concentrations after late 1991. The lifetime of CH(3)CCI(3) in the total atmosphere is 4.8 +/- 0.3 years, which is substantially lower than previously estimated. The deduced hydroxyl radical concentration, which measures the atmosphere's oxidizing capability, shows little change from 1978 to 1994.
This paper investigates isentropic ozone exchange between the extratropical lower stratosphere and the subtropical upper troposphere in the Northern Hemisphere. The quantification method is based on ...the potential vorticity (PV) mapping of Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE)-II ozone measurements and contour advection calculations using the NASA Goddard Space Center Data Assimilation Office (DAO) analysis for the year 1990. The magnitude of the annual isentropic stratosphere-to-troposphere ozone flux is calculated to be approximately twice the flux that is directed from the troposphere into the stratosphere. The net effect is that similar to 46 x 109 kg yr-1 of ozone are transferred quasi horizontally from the extratropical lower stratosphere into the subtropical upper troposphere between the isentropic surfaces of 330 and 370 K. The estimated monthly ozone fluxes show that the isentropic cross-tropopause ozone transport is stronger in summer/fall than in winter/ spring, and this seasonality is more obvious at the upper three levels (i.e., 345, 355, and 365 K) than at 335 K. The distributions of the estimated monthly ozone fluxes indicate that the isentropic stratosphere-to-troposphere ozone exchange is associated with wave breaking and occurs preferentially over the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Northwest Africa in winter and over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in summer.
01 Steinbrecht et al. 2004 (hereinafter referred to as S4) have discussed the trend in upper stratospheric ozone at 35 -45-km altitude determined from their lidar measurements at Hohenpeissenberg ...(47.8degN, 11.0degE) from 1987 to 2003. They question the conclusion of Newchurch et al. 2003 (hereinafter referred to as N3) that after approximately 1997 the downward trend of upper stratospheric ozone at 35-45-km altitude has diminished significantly. They argue instead that recent ozone changes are associated with the recent solar maximum (i.e., the solar cycle effect on ozone). In this comment we question their procedure for identifying the solar cycle effect. Moreover, we argue that the solar cycle effect was appropriately accounted for in the N3 analysis, and we buttress our argument by demonstrating that the more extensive data set used by N3 shows that the trend in upper stratospheric ozone has diminished significantly since 1997 and that this is evidence of the first stage of ozone recovery.