Changes in the Ozone Content over Central Europe During Reversals of Stratospheric Circulation in Late Winter

A superposed epoch analysis during late winter zonal wind reversals was carried out from 18 year observation series (1963 to 1980) of the meridional geopotential height gradient in the 30 mb level (latitude mean) and of the ozone content over central Europe. Experimental data suggest that if planetary waves are responsible for the additional meridional ozone transport during stratospheric warmings, this transport has to take place at heights other than those up to the ozone maximum in the middle latitudes.