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At least 73 records · Page 4

Revision of the Dobson total ozone series at Hohenpeissenberg

Total ozone measurements with the Dobson No. 104 (D 104) have been performed at the Meteorological Observatory Hohenpeissenberg since 1967. A critical review of this time series and the comparison with other instruments like TOMS or Brewer spectrophotometer revealed some intervals with uncertainties. Especially in the early eighties a monthly mean bias of about minus 3 percent to TOMS-data with annual variations depending on the mean sun-height exists. An extreme amplitude of 5.6 percent occurs in 1980 with minus 0.76 percent (February) and minus 6.36 percent (July). Two different methods were applied to reprocess the Dobson data set. A comparison of the differently recalculated data showed, that the application of N-corrections by means of the standard-lamp tests starting from the reference values of the Arosa Intercomparison 1986 yields better results than the N-corrections based on a Langley-pilot of the Arosa Intercomparison 1978. The extreme amplitude of the year 1980 is now reduced to 3.02 percent. There is still a slight drift in the monthly and yearly mean differences between TOMS and revised Dobson data. It cannot be excluded, that the satellite data may be responsible for the trend.

Koehler, U.↗

On the Long-Term Calibration of the TOMS Total Ozone Record

Comparison of Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data to the network of ground-based Dobson/Brewer measurements reveals difference in the time dependence of the calibration of the two systems. We have been searching for a method to determine the time dependence of the TOMS calibrations that is independent of the Dobson/Brewer network. In a separate paper by DeLand et al., calibrations of the Solar Backscatter UV Spectrometer (SBUV) instruments have been rederived using the D-pair (306/313 nm wavelengths) data at the equator. These calibrations have been applied to the data from the Nimbus 7 SBUV and the NOAA 9 and 11 SBUV/2 data to derive a new version 7 data set for each instrument. We have used these data to do a detailed comparison to the Nimbus 7 and Earth Probe TOMS data. Assuming that the D-pair establishes the correct calibration, these comparisons reveal some small calibration drifts (approximately 1%) in the TOMS data. They also reveal an offset in the D-pair calibration with respect to the Dobson network of approximately 8 Dobson units with the Dobson being lower than the D-pair. The D-pair calibration offsets have been used to create a merged ozone data set from TOMS with a calibration that has been determined independent of the Dobson/Brewer network. Trend analyses of these data will be presented and compared to trend analyses using the ground-based data.

Stolarski, Richard S.↗

TOMS total ozone trends in potential vorticity coordinates

Global total ozone measurements from the Nimbus 7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) are analyzed using potential vorticity (PV) as an approximate vortex-following coordinate. We analyze the time period November 1978-May 1991, prior to the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. The TOMS data are remapped into PV coordinates and trends are calculated, thereby characterizing ozone losses inside and outside the winter polar vortices. These analyses show large regions of ozone loss outside of the vortex in both hemispheres. Furthermore, these data suggest that midlatitude losses in the NH during winter-spring do not result solely from the transport of ozone depleted air from inside to outside the vortex.

Randel, William J.↗

An intercomparison of ground-based total ozone instruments

Five ground-based total ozone spectrophotometers were intercompared at Wallops Island, VA between October 1979 and January 1981. The tests were conducted to evaluate the stability and accuracy of each instrument over an extended time period. Acceptable performance regarding these two characteristics is essential if an instrument is to be useful in field measurements and network monitoring of the atmospheric total ozone content. The Dobson spectrophotometer was used as the standard of comparison for the Brewer grating spectrophotometer, the USSR M-83 ozonometer, the Canterbury filter photometer, and the SenTran filter photometer. The grating instrument was found to be potentially the equal of the Dobson but was subject to unreliable performance by its rather sophisticated electronic components. The filter photometers performed acceptably for short periods but filter aging and eventual degradation rendered both units unusable before the end of the intercomparison. Finally, the M-83 results were found to be in acceptable agreement with the Dobson throughout the period when certain qualifications are invoked. The accuracy of a single M-83 ozone measurement may be low. Averages tend to improve its agreement with the Dobson.

Parsons, C. L.↗

Statistical analysis of total ozone and stratospheric Umkehr data for trends and solar cycle relationship

Dobson total ozone data from 1970-1984 and stratospheric Umkehr profile ozone data from 1970-1981 are analyzed. The relationship between ozone and long-term solar cycle activity is examined using 10.7 cm solar flux data. From the Dobson data it is estimated that the overall global trend in total ozone is -0.26 + or -0.92 percent per decade, which indicates no significant overall trend; and for the total ozone-solar flux relationship there is a 1.18 + or - 0.66 percent change in total ozone from solar cycle minimum to maximum that reveals a positive relationship. Analysis of the Umkehr data reveals a negative trend of -0.30 + or - 0.17 percent per year in the layers 7 snd 8. The relationship between Umkehr data and solar flux in layers 6 and 7 is 2.57 + or - 1.25 percent and 3.40 + or - 2.16 percent change from solar cycle minimum to maximum; however, no significant relationship is detected in the higher layers 8 and 9. These estimates are compared with theoretical model calculations. It is noted that the estimated effects of solar cycle activity on total ozone and stratospheric ozone agree with calculations of photochemical models.

Reinsel, Gregory C.↗

The morphology of Antarctic total ozone as seen by TOMS

A more detailed examination of the TOMS observations reveals a number of important aspects of the Antarctic ozone depletion. First, it is noted that the presence of large scale disturbances around the edge of the ozone hole can lead to highly variable station observations. Second, an examination of the zonal mean total ozone for the seven Octobers shows that the large systematic decline is not simply confined to the polar region but exists at midlatitudes as well. Integrations of the total ozone from the South Pole northwards show that a portion of the systematic trend of decreasing Antarctic total ozone (prior to 1985) seems to be due to a redistribution of total ozone to subpolar and midlatitude regions. That is, decreases at high latitudes are compensated by increases at lower latitudes. The correlation between zonal mean total ozone and 70 mb zonal mean temperatures from polar to midlatitudes shows that the systematic decreases in total ozone is well correlated with a systematic decrease in stratospheric temperatures.

Schoeberl, Mark R.↗

Further interpretation of satellite measurements of Antarctic total ozone

Both dynamical and chemical mechanisms have been advanced to explain the decrease in total ozone in the Antarctic spring. Further analysis of satellite measurements show that during any one year, the September decline in total ozone near the South Pole is compensated by an increase at midlatitudes. The total ozone amount from 44 deg S to the pole remains almost unchanged from August through November even though both the polar and midlatitude values reach extremes during this period. These observations suggest that the variations within the spring season in south polar total ozone are governed by dynamical redistribution rather than chemical processes.

Stolarski, Richard S.↗

Global distribution of total ozone derived from Nimbus 3 satellite during April July, 1969 and its implication to upper tropospheric circulation

Utilizing a stepwise multiple regression scheme, monthly mean global maps of total ozone are produced from the spectral intensity measurements made by the infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) onboard the Nimbus 3 satellite for the period April 18 to July 22, 1969. These maps show that over the equatorial regions total ozone increases steadily from April to July. Further, latitudinal variation of total ozone derived from these maps shows that the ozone increases at all latitudes over the Southern Hemisphere uniformly from April to July while over the Northern Hemisphere the monthly decrease at all latitudes is nonuniform. In general, these maps bear a close resemblance to the upper tropospheric circulation. It is observed that the total ozone is best correlated with the 200 mb geopotential heights. This relationship enables the utilization of total ozone as a quasi-stream function to determine geostrophic winds at 200 mb level. Further, even at low latitudes where the total ozone does not bear simple relationship to the geopotential heights the course of the easterly jet stream with the help of the ozone measurements can be identified.

Prabhakara, C.↗

Differences between recalculated and original Dobson total ozone data from Hradec Kralove, Czechoslovakia, 1962-1990

Backward reevaluation of long-term total ozone measurements from the Solar and Ozone Observatory of Czech Hydrometeorological Institute at Hradec Kralove, Czechoslovakia, was performed for the period 1962-1990. The homogenization was carried out with respect to the calibration level of the World Primary Standard Spectrophotometer No. 83 - WPSS by means of day-by-day recalculations of more than 25,000 individual measurements using the R-N tables reconstructed after international comparisons and regular standard lamp tests of the Dobson spectrophotometer No. 74. The results showed significant differences among the recalculated data and those original ones published in the bulletins Ozone Data for the World. In the period 1962-1979 they reached 10-19 D.U. (3.0-5.5%) for annual averages and even 26 D.U. (7.0%) for monthly averages of total ozone. Such differences exceed several times accuracy of measuring and can significantly influence character of trends of total ozone in Central Europe. Therefore the results from Hradec Kralove support the calls for reevaluation of all historical Dobson total ozone data sets at individual stations of Global Ozone Observing System.

Vanicek, Karel↗

The geographic bias in determining average variations of total ozone from ground-based observations

The mean monthly hemispheric total ozone values as determined from between the two sets of data indicates that the mean difference between the calculated total ozone amount as determined for the entire period from all the satellite data and that derived from the satellite data restricted to location of ground based stations is 1.3 m atm cm for the Northern Hemisphere and 0.7 m atm cm for the Southern Hemisphere (0.3 and 0.2 percent respectively of the average total ozone in each hemisphere).

London, J.↗

Medium scale disturbances in total ozone during Southern Hemisphere summer

Distinct medium scale disturbances in Southern Hemisphere total ozone were observed by the Nimbus 7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer during the 1979 FGGE observing period. These disturbances are shown to be a result of advection by the zonal harmonic wave five which is centered near the tropopause (Salby, 1982). The contribution to the total ozone field by vertical advection due to this wave is shown to be nearly equal to that due to horizontal advection.

Schoeberl, M. R.↗

Observations of deformation and mixing of the total ozone field in the Antarctic polar vortex

Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) images of the springtime Southern Hemisphere commonly show concentric layers in the total ozone field outside the Antarctic polar vortex. The layering appears to result from horizontal folding and stretching of regions on the equatorward flank of the polar vortex near the midlatitude ozone maximum. This folding and stretching interleaves low and high ozone air from the subtropics and midlatitudes, respectively. Occaisional large amplitude wave events can extract very low ozone air from the interior of the polar vortex (the Antarctic ozone hole), but the folding and stretching occurs in midlatitiudes even when wave amplitudes are not exceptionally large. The folding and stretching results in relatively rapid horizontal mixing of the atmosphere on the equatorward flank of the jet. This type of Lagrangian behavior may be common in the atmosphere, but is visible when local tracer gradients are large and observations with high spatial resolution are available. Also, experimentation has shown that gray-scale images of TOMS data show the details of the spatial distribution of ozone much more clearly than contour maps or false-color images.

Bowman, Kenneth P.↗

Nimbus-7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) Data Products User's Guide

Two data products from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) onboard Nimbus-7 have been archived at the Distributed Active Archive Center, in the form of Hierarchical Data Format files. The instrument measures backscattered Earth radiance and incoming solar irradiance; their ratio is used in ozone retrievals. Changes in the instrument sensitivity are monitored by a spectral discrimination technique using measurements of the intrinsically stable wavelength dependence of derived surface reflectivity. The algorithm to retrieve total column ozone compares measured Earth radiances at sets of three wavelengths with radiances calculated for different total ozone values, solar zenith angles, and optical paths. The initial error in the absolute scale for TOMS total ozone is 3 percent, the one standard deviation random error is 2 percent, and drift is less than 1.0 percent per decade. The Level-2 product contains the measured radiances, the derived total ozone amount, and reflectivity information for each scan position. The Level-3 product contains daily total ozone amount and reflectivity in a I - degree latitude by 1.25 degrees longitude grid. The Level-3 product also is available on CD-ROM. Detailed descriptions of both HDF data files and the CD-ROM product are provided.

McPeters, Richard D.↗

ADEOS Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) Data Products User's Guide

Two data products from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (ADEOS/TOMS) have been archived at the Distributed Active Archive Center, in the form of Hierarchical Data Format files. The ADEOS/ TOMS began taking measurements on September 11, 1996, and ended on June 29, 1997. The instrument measured backscattered Earth radiance and incoming solar irradiance; their ratio was used in ozone retrievals. Changes in the reflectivity of the solar diffuser used for the irradiance measurement were monitored using a carousel of three diffusers, each exposed to the degrading effects of solar irradiation at different rates. The algorithm to retrieve total column ozone compares measured Earth radiances at sets of three wavelengths with radiances calculated for different total ozone values, solar zenith angles, and optical paths. The initial error in the absolute scale for TOMS total ozone is 3 percent, the one standard deviation random error is 2 percent, and the drift is less than 0.5 percent over the 9-month data record. The Level 2 product contains the measured radiances, the derived total ozone amount, and reflectivity information for each scan position. The Level 3 product contains daily total ozone and reflectivity in a 1-degree latitude by 1.25 degrees longitude grid. The Level 3 files containing estimates of UVB at the Earth surface and tropospheric aerosol information will also be available. Detailed descriptions of both HDF data files and the CDROM product are provided.

Krueger, A.↗

Total ozone derived from UV spectrophotometer measurements on the NASA CV-990 aircraft for the fall 1976 latitude survey flights

An ultraviolet interference filter spectrophotometer was modified to use a photodiode and was flown on latitude survey flights in the fall of 1976. Comparison with Dobson station total ozone values shows agreement between UVS and Dobson total ozone of + or - 2 percent. The procedure used to convert UVS measured ozone above the aircraft altitude to total ozone above ground level introduces an additional 2 percent deviation for very high altitude UVS ozone data. Under stable aircraft operating conditions, the UVS derived ozone values have a variability, or reproducibility, of better than + or -1 percent. The UVS data from the latitude survey flights yield a detailed latitude profile of total ozone over the Pacific Ocean during November 1976. Significant latitudinal structure in total ozone is found at the middle latitudes (30 deg to 40 deg N and S).

Hanser, F. A.↗

The global distribution of long-term total ozone variations during the period 1957-1975

Total ozone observations in the international network have been used as a basis for the analysis of the mean monthly ozone distribution over the globe for the period 1957-1975. It has been found that during the period 1961-1970 the total ozone amount increased in the Northern Hemisphere by about 12 percent and that this increase seems to be significant at all latitudes. Although the data were sparse for the Southern Hemisphere, there did not appear to be any significant ozone changes during the 10 year period. Relatively large geographic variations were found in the ozone trends and it is suggested that these variations are related to large scale changes in the atmospheric circular pattern.

London, J.↗

The sensitivity of total ozone and ozone perturbation scenarios in a two-dimensional model due to dynamical inputs

The sensitivity of the total ozone distribution in the Douglass et al. (1989) photochemical model to the dynamical inputs of ozone and the zone perturbation scenarios was investigated by computing the residual circulation from three sets of heating rates (used in computing the advection field). The model ozone results were compared to solar backscattered UV ozone data (SBUV). It was found that, depending on the dynamical inputs, the modeled global average total ozone varied up to 10 percent (with even more substantial seasonal and latitudinal variabilities), indicating that total ozone in the middle to high latitudes is very sensitive to the advection field below 100 mbar, the region where the heating rates are most uncertain. The modeled total ozone showed better agreement with solar SBUV climatology when computed horizontal eddy diffusion was used.

Jackman, Charles H.↗

Antarctic ozone decrease: Possible impact on the seasonal and latitudinal distribution of total ozone as simulated by a 2-D model

Satellite borne instruments, the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and the Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet spectrometer (SBUV), show that total column ozone has decreased by more than 5 percent in the neighborhood of 60 S at all seasons since 1979. This is considerably larger than the decrease calculated by 2-D models which take into account solar flux variation and increases of trace gas concentrations over the same period. The meteorological conditions (warmer temperature and the apparent lack of polar stratospheric clouds) at these latitudes do not seem to favor heterogeneous chemistry as the direct cause for the observed ozone reduction. A mechanism involving the seasonal transport of ozone-poor air mass from within the polar vortex to lower latitudes (the so-called dilution effect) is proposed as a possible explanation for the observed year-round ozone reduction in regions away from the vortex.

Ko, Malcolm K. W.↗