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The Distribution of Ozone in the Early Stages of Polar Vortex DevelopmentPrevious analysis has shown that the distribution of O3 at high northern latitudes in the lower-to-middle stratosphere at the beginning of the winter season, 1999-2000 has a characteristic distribution, which is consistent between in situ and satellite measurements [Kawa et al., The Interaction Between Dynamics and Chemistry of Ozone in the Set-up Phase of the Northern Hemisphere Polar Vortex, submitted manuscript, 2001 ]. Initial O3 profiles in the vortex are similar to each other and are quite different from outside the vortex at the same latitude and also from a zonal mean climatology. In the vortex, O3 is nearly constant from 500 to above 800 K with a value at 3 ppmv +/- approx.10%. Values outside the vortex are up to a factor of 2 higher and increase significantly with potential temperature. The seasonal time series of POAM data shows that relatively low O3 mixing ratios, which characterize the vortex in late fall, are already present at high latitudes at the end of summer in September before the vortex circulation sets up. This suggests a possible feedback role between O3 chemistry and the formation of the vortex, which is dominated by the seasonal radiation balance. Here we show that these characteristic O3 distributions are consistent from year to year and between the hemispheres. We will attempt to determine whether variations in fall vortex O3 are related in any way to O3 abundances and vortex structure later during winter and into spring.
Document ID
20020083062
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kawa, S. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Newman, P. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Schoeberl, M. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Bevilacqua, R.
(Naval Research Lab. Washington, DC United States)
Bhartia, P. K.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: Workshop on Arctic Ozone Loss
Location: Potsdam
Country: Germany
Start Date: March 4, 2002
End Date: March 6, 2002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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