scholarly journals Long-term Variations in Ozone Levels in the Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere over Beijing: Observations and Model Simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuli Zhang ◽  
Mengchu Tao ◽  
Jinqiang Zhang ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Hongbin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Tropospheric Chemistry ◽  
Lagrangian Model ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Sudden Decrease

Abstract. Tropospheric ozone is both a major pollutant and a short-lived greenhouse gas and has therefore attracted much concern in recent years. The ozone profile in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over Beijing has been observed since 2002 by ozonesondes developed by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics. Increasing concentrations of tropospheric ozone from 2002 to 2010 measured by these balloon-based observations have been reported previously. As more observations are now available, we used these data to analyze the long-term variability of ozone over Beijing during the whole period from 2002 to 2018. The ozonesondes measured increasing concentrations of ozone from 2002 to 2012 in both the troposphere and lower stratosphere. There was a sudden decrease in observed ozone between 2011 and 2012. After this decrease, the increasing trend in ozone concentrations slowed down, especially in the mid-troposphere, where the positive trend became neutral. We used the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS) to determine the influence of the transport of ozone from the stratosphere to the troposphere on the observed ozone profiles. CLaMS showed a weak increase in the contribution of stratospheric ozone before the decrease in 2011–2012 and a much more pronounced decrease after this time. Because there is no tropospheric chemistry in CLaMS, the sudden decrease simulated by CLaMS indicates that a smaller downward transport of ozone from the stratosphere after 2012 may explain a significant part of the observed decrease in ozone in the mid-troposphere and lower stratosphere. However, the influence of stratospheric ozone in the lower troposphere is negligible in CLaMS and the hiatus in the positive trend after 2012 can be attributed to a reduction in ozone precursors as a result of stronger pollution control measures in Beijing.

scholarly journals Long-term variations in ozone levels in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over Beijing: observations and model simulations

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 13343-13354
Author(s):  
Yuli Zhang ◽  
Mengchu Tao ◽  
Jinqiang Zhang ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Hongbin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Tropospheric Chemistry ◽  
Lagrangian Model ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Sudden Decrease

Abstract. Tropospheric ozone is both a major pollutant and a short-lived greenhouse gas and has therefore caused much concern in recent years. The ozone profile in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over Beijing has been observed since 2002 by ozonesondes developed by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics. Increasing concentrations of tropospheric ozone from 2002 to 2010 measured by these balloon-based observations have been reported previously. As more observations are now available, we used these data to analyse the long-term variability of ozone over Beijing during the whole period from 2002 to 2018. The ozonesondes measured increasing concentrations of ozone from 2002 to 2012 in both the troposphere and lower stratosphere. There was a sudden decrease in observed ozone between 2011 and 2012. After this decrease, the increasing trend in ozone concentrations slowed down, especially in the mid-troposphere, where the positive trend became neutral. We used the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS) to determine the influence of the transport of ozone from the stratosphere to the troposphere on the observed ozone profiles. CLaMS showed a weak increase in the contribution of stratospheric ozone before the decrease in 2011–2012 and a much more pronounced decrease after this time. Because there is no tropospheric chemistry in CLaMS, the sudden decrease simulated by CLaMS indicates that a smaller downward transport of ozone from the stratosphere after 2012 may explain a significant part of the observed decrease in ozone in the mid-troposphere and lower stratosphere. However, the influence of stratospheric ozone in the lower troposphere is negligible in CLaMS, and the hiatus in the positive trend after 2012 can be attributed to a reduction in ozone precursors as a result of stronger pollution control measures in Beijing.

Long-term Variations in Ozone Levels over Beijing: Observations and Model Simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuli Zhang ◽  
Mengchu Tao ◽  
JinQiang Zhang ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Hongbin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Tropospheric Chemistry ◽  
Lagrangian Model ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Atmospheric Physics ◽  
Sudden Decrease

<p>Tropospheric ozone is a major pollutant and a short-lived greenhouse gas and has therefore attracted much concern in recent years. The ozone concentration in the troposphere and lower stratosphere over Beijing has been observed since 2002 by ozonesondes developed by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics. We used these balloon-based observations to analyze the long-term variability of ozone over Beijing during the whole period from 2002 to 2018. The ozonesondes measured increasing concentrations of ozone from 2002 to 2012 in both the troposphere and lower stratosphere. There was a sudden decrease in observed ozone between 2011 and 2012. After this decrease, the increasing trend in ozone concentrations slowed down, especially in the mid-troposphere, where the positive trend became neutral. We used the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS) to determine the influence of the transport of ozone from the stratosphere to the troposphere on the observed ozone profiles. Because there is no tropospheric chemistry in CLaMS, the sudden decrease simulated by CLaMS indicates that a smaller downward transport of ozone from the stratosphere after 2012 may explain a significant part of the observed decrease in ozone in the mid-troposphere and lower stratosphere. However, the influence of stratospheric ozone in the lower troposphere is negligible in CLaMS and the hiatus in the positive trend after 2012 can be attributed to a reduction in ozone precursors as a result of stronger pollution control measures in Beijing.</p>

scholarly journals Characterising the Seasonal and Geographical Variability of Tropospheric Ozone, Stratospheric Influence and Recent Changes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan S. Williams ◽  
Michaela I. Hegglin ◽  
Brian J. Kerridge ◽  
Patrick Jöckel ◽  
Barry G. Latter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Ozone Production ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
The World

Abstract. The stratospheric contribution to tropospheric ozone (O3) has been a subject of much debate in recent decades, but is known to have an important influence. Recent improvements in diagnostic and modelling tools provide new evidence that the stratosphere has a much larger influence than previously thought. This study aims to characterise the seasonal and geographical distribution of tropospheric ozone, its variability and changes, and provide quantification of the stratospheric influence on these measures. To this end, we evaluate hindcast specified dynamics chemistry-climate model (CCM) simulations from the ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model and the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model (CMAM), as contributed to the IGAC/SPARC Chemistry Climate Model Initiative (CCMI) activity, together with satellite observations from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and ozonesonde profile measurements from the World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre (WOUDC) over a period of concurrent data availability (2005–2010). An overall positive, seasonally dependent bias in 1000–450 hPa (~ 0–5.5 km) subcolumn ozone is found for EMAC, ranging from 2–8 Dobson Units (DU), whereas CMAM is found to be in closer agreement with the observations, although with substantial seasonal and regional variation in the sign and magnitude of the bias (~ −4 to +4 DU). Although the application of OMI averaging kernels (AKs) improves agreement with model estimates from both EMAC and CMAM as expected, comparisons with ozonesondes indicate a positive ozone bias in the lower stratosphere in CMAM, together with an underestimation of photochemical ozone production (negative bias) in the troposphere. Model variability is found to be more similar in magnitude to that implied from ozonesondes, in comparison with OMI which has significantly larger variability. Noting the overall consistency of the CCMs, the influence of the model chemistry schemes and internal dynamics is discussed in relation to the inter-model differences found. In particular, it is shown that CMAM simulates a faster and shallower Brewer-Dobson Circulation (BDC) relative to both EMAC and observational estimates, which has implications for the distribution and magnitude of the downward flux of stratospheric ozone, over the most recent climatological period (1980–2010). Nonetheless, it is shown that the stratospheric influence on tropospheric ozone is larger than previously thought and is estimated to exceed 50 % in the wintertime extratropics, even in the lower troposphere. Finally, long term changes in the CCM ozone tracers are calculated for different seasons between 1980–89 and 2001–10. An overall statistically significant increase in tropospheric ozone is found across much of the world, but particularly in the Northern Hemisphere and in the middle to upper troposphere, where the increase is on the order of 4–6 ppbv (5–10 %). Our model study implies that attribution from stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) to such ozone changes ranges from 25–30 % at the surface to as much as 50–80 % in the upper troposphere-lower stratosphere (UTLS) across many regions of the world. These findings highlight the importance of a well-resolved stratosphere in simulations of tropospheric ozone and its implications for the radiative forcing, air quality and oxidation capacity of the troposphere.

scholarly journals Tropospheric ozone trend over Beijing from 2002–2010: ozonesonde measurements and modeling analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 11175-11199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
P. Konopka ◽  
Y. Liu ◽  
H. Chen ◽  
R. Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Data ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Significant Trend ◽  
Lagrangian Model ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Modeling Analysis ◽  
Ozone Trend ◽  
Summer Maximum ◽  
Column Ozone

Abstract. Using a combination of ozonesonde data and numerical simulations of the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS), the trend of tropospheric ozone (O3) during 2002–2010 over Beijing was investigated. Tropospheric ozone over Beijing shows a winter minimum and a broad summer maximum with a clear positive trend in the maximum summer ozone concentration over the last decade. The observed significant trend of tropospheric column ozone for the entire time series is 4.6% yr−1 for a mean level of 52 DU. This trend is close to the significant trend of partial column ozone in the lower troposphere (0–3 km) during summer (3.4% yr−1 for a mean level of 23 DU). Analysis of the CLaMS simulation shows that transport rather than chemistry drives most of the seasonality of tropospheric ozone. However, dynamical processes alone cannot explain the trend of tropospheric ozone in the observational data. Clearly enhanced ozone values and a negative vertical ozone gradient in the lower troposphere in the observational data emphasize the importance of photochemistry within the troposphere during spring and summer, and suggest that the photochemistry within the troposphere significantly contributed to the tropospheric ozone trend over Beijing during the last decade.

scholarly journals Tropospheric ozone trend over Beijing from 2002–2010: ozonesonde measurements and modeling analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 8389-8399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
P. Konopka ◽  
Y. Liu ◽  
H. Chen ◽  
R. Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Data ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Significant Trend ◽  
Lagrangian Model ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Photochemical Production ◽  
Ozone Trend ◽  
Summer Maximum ◽  
Column Ozone

Abstract. Using a combination of ozonesonde data and numerical simulations of the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS), the trend of tropospheric ozone (O3) during 2002–2010 over Beijing was investigated. Tropospheric ozone over Beijing shows a winter minimum and a broad summer maximum with a clear positive trend in the maximum summer ozone concentration over the last decade. The observed significant trend of tropospheric column ozone is mainly caused by photochemical production (3.1% yr−1 for a mean level of 52 DU). This trend is close to the significant trend of partial column ozone in the lower troposphere (0–3 km) resulting from the enhanced photochemical production during summer (3.0% yr−1 for a mean level of 23 DU). Analysis of the CLaMS simulation shows that transport rather than chemistry drives most of the seasonality of tropospheric ozone. However, dynamical processes alone cannot explain the trend of tropospheric ozone in the observational data. Clearly enhanced ozone values and a negative vertical ozone gradient in the lower troposphere in the observational data emphasize the importance of photochemistry within the troposphere during spring and summer, and suggest that the photochemistry within the troposphere significantly contributes to the tropospheric ozone trend over Beijing during the last decade.

scholarly journals Ensemble simulations of the role of the stratosphere in the attribution of tropospheric ozone variability

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 20461-20520 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Hess ◽  
D. Kinnison ◽  
Q. Tang
Keyword(s):  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Tropospheric Chemistry ◽  
Average Sensitivity ◽  
Percent Change ◽  
Ensemble Simulations ◽  
Ozone Flux ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Despite the need to understand the impact of changes in emissions and climate on tropospheric ozone, attribution of tropospheric interannual ozone variability to specific processes has proved difficult. Here we analyze the stratospheric contribution to tropospheric ozone variability and trends from 1953–2005 in the Northern Hemisphere (N.~H.) mid-latitudes using four ensemble simulations of the Free Running (FR) Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM). The simulations are forced with observed time varying: (1) sea surface temperatures (SSTs), (2) greenhouse gases (GHGs), (3) ozone depleting substances (ODS), (4) Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO); (5) solar variability (SV) and (6) stratospheric sulfate surface area density (SAD). Detailed representation of stratospheric chemistry is simulated including the ozone loss processes due to volcanic eruptions and polar stratospheric clouds. In the troposphere ozone production is represented by CH4-NOx smog chemistry, where surface chemical emissions remain interannually constant. Despite the simplicity of the tropospheric chemistry, the FR WACCM simulations capture the measured N. H. background interannual tropospheric ozone variability in many locations to a surprising extent, suggesting the importance of external forcing in driving interannual ozone variability. The variability and trend in the simulated 1953–2005 tropospheric ozone record from 30–90° N at background surface measurement sites, 500 hPa measurement sites and in the area average is largely explained on interannual timescales by changes in the 150 hPa 30–90° N ozone flux and changes in tropospheric methane concentrations. The average sensitivity of tropospheric ozone to methane (percent change in ozone to a percent change in methane) from 30–90° N is 0.17 at 500 hPa and 0.21 at the surface; the average sensitivity of tropospheric ozone to the 150 hPa ozone flux (percent change in ozone to a percent change in the ozone flux) from 30–90° N is 0.19 at 500 hPa and 0.11 at the surface. The 30–90° N simulated downward residual velocity at 150 hPa increased by 15% between 1953 and 2005. However, the impact of this on the 30–90° N 150 hPa ozone flux is modulated by the long-term changes in stratospheric ozone. The ozone flux decreases from 1965 to 1990 due to stratospheric ozone depletion, but increases again by approximately 7% from 1990–2005. The first empirical orthogonal function of interannual ozone variability explains from 40% (at the surface) to over 80% (at 150 hPa) of the simulated ozone interannual variability from 30–90° N. This identified mode of ozone variability shows strong stratosphere–troposphere coupling, demonstrating the importance of the stratosphere in an attribution of tropospheric ozone variability. The simulations, with no change in emissions, capture almost 50% of the measured ozone change during the 1990s at a variety of locations. This suggests that a large portion of the measured change is not due to changes in emissions, but can be traced to changes in large-scale modes of ozone variability. This emphasizes the difficulty in the attribution of ozone changes, and the importance of natural variability in understanding the trends and variability of ozone. We find little relation between the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) index and large-scale tropospheric ozone variability over the long-term record.

scholarly journals Tropical tropospheric ozone derived using Clear-Cloudy Pairs (CCP) of TOMS measurements

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Newchurch ◽  
D. Sun ◽  
J. H. Kim ◽  
X. Liu
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Total Ozone ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Retrieval Efficiency ◽  
Retrieval Errors ◽  
Low Altitude

Abstract. Using TOMS total-ozone measurements over high-altitude cloud locations and nearby paired clear locations, we describe the Clear-Cloudy Pairs (CCP) method for deriving tropical tropospheric ozone. The high-altitude clouds are identified by measured 380 nm reflectivities greater than 80% and Temperature Humidity InfraRed (THIR) measured cloud-top pressures less than 200 hPa. To account for locations without high-altitude clouds, we apply a zonal sine fitting to the stratospheric ozone derived from available cloudy points, resulting in a wave-one amplitude of about 4 DU. THIR data is unavailable after November 1984, so we extend the CCP method by using a reflectivity threshold of 90% to identify high-altitude clouds and remove the influence of high-reflectivity-but-low-altitude clouds with a lowpass frequency filter. We correct ozone retrieval errors associated with clouds, and ozone retrieval errors due to sun glint and aerosols. Comparing CCP results with Southern Hemisphere ADditional OZonesondes (SHADOZ) tropospheric ozone indicates that CCP tropospheric ozone and ozonesonde measurements are highly consistent. The most significant difference between CCP and ozonesonde tropospheric ozone can be explained by the low Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) retrieval efficiency of ozone in the lower troposphere.

scholarly journals Characterising the seasonal and geographical variability in tropospheric ozone, stratospheric influence and recent changes

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 3589-3620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan S. Williams ◽  
Michaela I. Hegglin ◽  
Brian J. Kerridge ◽  
Patrick Jöckel ◽  
Barry G. Latter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Ozone Production ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
The World

Abstract. The stratospheric contribution to tropospheric ozone (O3) has been a subject of much debate in recent decades but is known to have an important influence. Recent improvements in diagnostic and modelling tools provide new evidence that the stratosphere has a much larger influence than previously thought. This study aims to characterise the seasonal and geographical distribution of tropospheric ozone, its variability, and its changes and provide quantification of the stratospheric influence on these measures. To this end, we evaluate hindcast specified-dynamics chemistry–climate model (CCM) simulations from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts – Hamburg (ECHAM)/Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy) Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model and the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model (CMAM), as contributed to the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry – Stratosphere-troposphere Processes And their Role in Climate (IGAC-SPARC) (IGAC–SPARC) Chemistry Climate Model Initiative (CCMI) activity, together with satellite observations from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and ozone-sonde profile measurements from the World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre (WOUDC) over a period of concurrent data availability (2005–2010). An overall positive, seasonally dependent bias in 1000–450 hPa (∼0–5.5 km) sub-column ozone is found for EMAC, ranging from 2 to 8 Dobson units (DU), whereas CMAM is found to be in closer agreement with the observations, although with substantial seasonal and regional variation in the sign and magnitude of the bias (∼±4 DU). Although the application of OMI averaging kernels (AKs) improves agreement with model estimates from both EMAC and CMAM as expected, comparisons with ozone-sondes indicate a positive ozone bias in the lower stratosphere in CMAM, together with a negative bias in the troposphere resulting from a likely underestimation of photochemical ozone production. This has ramifications for diagnosing the level of model–measurement agreement. Model variability is found to be more similar in magnitude to that implied from ozone-sondes in comparison with OMI, which has significantly larger variability. Noting the overall consistency of the CCMs, the influence of the model chemistry schemes and internal dynamics is discussed in relation to the inter-model differences found. In particular, it is inferred that CMAM simulates a faster and shallower Brewer–Dobson circulation (BDC) compared to both EMAC and observational estimates, which has implications for the distribution and magnitude of the downward flux of stratospheric ozone over the most recent climatological period (1980–2010). Nonetheless, it is shown that the stratospheric influence on tropospheric ozone is significant and is estimated to exceed 50 % in the wintertime extratropics, even in the lower troposphere. Finally, long-term changes in the CCM ozone tracers are calculated for different seasons. An overall statistically significant increase in tropospheric ozone is found across much of the world but particularly in the Northern Hemisphere and in the middle to upper troposphere, where the increase is on the order of 4–6 ppbv (5 %–10 %) between 1980–1989 and 2001–2010. Our model study implies that attribution from stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE) to such ozone changes ranges from 25 % to 30 % at the surface to as much as 50 %–80 % in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS) across some regions of the world, including western Eurasia, eastern North America, the South Pacific and the southern Indian Ocean. These findings highlight the importance of a well-resolved stratosphere in simulations of tropospheric ozone and its implications for the radiative forcing, air quality and oxidation capacity of the troposphere.

scholarly journals On the impact of future climate change on tropopause folds and tropospheric ozone

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (22) ◽  
pp. 14387-14401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitris Akritidis ◽  
Andrea Pozzer ◽  
Prodromos Zanis
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Identification Algorithm ◽  
The Future ◽  
Projected Changes ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Using a transient simulation for the period 1960–2100 with the state-of-the-art ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) global model and a tropopause fold identification algorithm, we explore the future projected changes in tropopause folds, stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) of ozone, and tropospheric ozone under the RCP6.0 scenario. Statistically significant changes in tropopause fold frequencies from 1970–1999 to 2070–2099 are identified in both hemispheres, regionally exceeding 3 %, and are associated with the projected changes in the position and intensity of the subtropical jet streams. A strengthening of ozone STT is projected for the future in both hemispheres, with an induced increase in transported stratospheric ozone tracer throughout the whole troposphere, reaching up to 10 nmol mol−1 in the upper troposphere, 8 nmol mol−1 in the middle troposphere, and 3 nmol mol−1 near the surface. Notably, the regions exhibiting the largest changes of ozone STT at 400 hPa coincide with those with the highest fold frequency changes, highlighting the role of the tropopause folding mechanism in STT processes under a changing climate. For both the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) and Afghanistan (AFG) regions, which are known as hotspots of fold activity and ozone STT during the summer period, the year-to-year variability of middle-tropospheric ozone with stratospheric origin is largely explained by the short-term variations in ozone at 150 hPa and tropopause fold frequency. Finally, ozone in the lower troposphere is projected to decrease under the RCP6.0 scenario during MAM (March, April, and May) and JJA (June, July, and August) in the Northern Hemisphere and during DJF (December, January, and February) in the Southern Hemisphere, due to the decline of ozone precursor emissions and the enhanced ozone loss from higher water vapour abundances, while in the rest of the troposphere ozone shows a remarkable increase owing mainly to the STT strengthening and the stratospheric ozone recovery.

scholarly journals Radiative forcing since preindustrial times due to ozone change in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gauss ◽  
G. Myhre ◽  
I. S. A. Isaksen ◽  
V. Grewe ◽  
G. Pitari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Transport Models ◽  
Stratospheric Chemistry ◽  
Ozone Column ◽  
Global Mean

Abstract. Changes in atmospheric ozone have occurred since the preindustrial era as a result of increasing anthropogenic emissions. Within ACCENT, a European Network of Excellence, ozone changes between 1850 and 2000 are assessed for the troposphere and the lower stratosphere (up to 30 km) by a variety of seven chemistry-climate models and three chemical transport models. The modeled ozone changes are taken as input for detailed calculations of radiative forcing. When only changes in chemistry are considered (constant climate) the modeled global-mean tropospheric ozone column increase since preindustrial times ranges from 7.9 DU to 13.8 DU among the ten participating models, while the stratospheric column reduction lies between 14.1 DU and 28.6 DU in the models considering stratospheric chemistry. The resulting radiative forcing is strongly dependent on the location and altitude of the modeled ozone change and varies between 0.25 Wm−2 and 0.45 Wm−2 due to ozone change in the troposphere and −0.123 Wm−2 and +0.066 Wm−2 due to the stratospheric ozone change. Changes in ozone and other greenhouse gases since preindustrial times have altered climate. Six out of the ten participating models have performed an additional calculation taking into account both chemical and climate change. In most models the isolated effect of climate change is an enhancement of the tropospheric ozone column increase, while the stratospheric reduction becomes slightly less severe. In the three climate-chemistry models with detailed tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry the inclusion of climate change increases the resulting radiative forcing due to tropospheric ozone change by up to 0.10 Wm−2, while the radiative forcing due to stratospheric ozone change is reduced by up to 0.034 Wm−2. Considering tropospheric and stratospheric change combined, the total ozone column change is negative while the resulting net radiative forcing is positive.

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