Kelvin waves near the equatorial stratopause as seen in SBUV ozone data

Data on ozone mixing ratios derived for the time period 1979-1986 from measurements of the solar backscatter UV instrument on board Nimbus-7 were used to investigate space-time variations of atmospheric ozone in the equatorial middle atmospohere during this period. Evidence is presented for the appearance of equatorially trapped 'ozone Kelvin waves' above the 10-mb level, having a zonal wavenumber-one component and an eastward migration period of about 7 days. It is shown that Kelvin wave amplitudes are closely related to the semiannual oscillation of the zonal mean wind around the stratopause level.