NASA NTRS1989
In the attempts to understand the processes which affect ozone in the stratosphere, and to predict future ozone levels, a variety of computer models were developed and employed. To oversimplify somewhat, the models range from 1-D models with intricately detailed photochemistry but only the crudest representation of transport, to 3-D general circulation models with intricately detailed dynamics and no photochemistry at all. Each of these has its appropriate uses. It was felt that there was much to be gained from intermediate models incorporating an extensive treatment of photochemistry with a dynamical framework which at least recognizes that atmospheric motions are advective as well as diffusive, and that both chemistry and dynamics are subject to latitudinal and seasonal variations. Thus the 2-D, zonally averaged models have begun to play a larger role in the last seven years, both in attempting to understand observed distributions of trace species and in attempting to assess the probable effects of antropogenic perturbations. There are many choices to be made in developing the model. It was the purpose of the 2-D model Intercomparison Workshop to permit discussion of the choices made and the behavior of the resulting models. The goal was not to identify a best set of choices, but rather to identify areas in which the models are sensitive to the choices made, and to develop a sense of where these models as a class do well or poorly in simulating the observed atmosphere.