scholarly journals A more representative “best representative value” for daily total column ozone reporting

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. D. Smedley ◽  
John S. Rimmer ◽  
Ann R. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Satellite Validation ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Total Column ◽  
Daily Total

Abstract. Long-term trends of total column ozone, assessments of stratospheric ozone recovery and satellite validation are underpinned by a reliance on daily “best representative values” from Brewer spectrophotometers and other ground-based ozone instruments. In turn reporting of these daily total column ozone values to the World Ozone and Ultraviolet Data Centre has traditionally been predicated upon a binomial choice between direct sun and zenith sky observations. For mid- and high-latitude monitoring sites impacted by cloud cover we discuss the potential deficiencies of this approach in terms of its rejection of otherwise valid observations and capability to evenly sample throughout the day. A new methodology is proposed that makes full use of all valid direct sun and zenith sky observations, accounting for unevenly spaced observations and their relative uncertainty, to calculate an improved estimate of the daily mean total column ozone. It is demonstrated that this method can increase the number of contributing observations by a factor of 2.5, increases the sampled time span, and reduces the spread of the representative time by half. No effect on longer-term trends is detected, though for the sample data analysed we observe a mean increase of 2.8 DU (0.82 %) w.r.t. the traditional direct sun vs zenith sky average choice. To complement the new calculation of a best representative value of total column ozone and separate its uncertainty from the spread of observations, we also propose reporting its standard error rather than the standard deviation, together with measures of the full range of values observed.

scholarly journals A more representative “best representative value” for daily total column ozone reporting

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4697-4704
Author(s):  
Andrew R. D. Smedley ◽  
John S. Rimmer ◽  
Ann R. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Satellite Validation ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Total Column ◽  
Daily Total

Abstract. Long-term trends of total column ozone (TCO), assessments of stratospheric ozone recovery, and satellite validation are underpinned by a reliance on daily best representative values from Brewer spectrophotometers and other ground-based ozone instruments. In turn reporting of these daily total column ozone values to the World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre (WOUDC) has traditionally been predicated upon a simple choice between direct sun (DS) and zenith sky (ZS) observations. For mid- and high-latitude monitoring sites impacted by cloud cover we discuss the potential deficiencies of this approach in terms of its rejection of otherwise valid observations and capability to evenly sample throughout the day. A new methodology is proposed that makes full use of all valid direct sun and zenith sky observations, accounting for unevenly spaced observations and their relative uncertainty, to calculate an improved estimate of the daily mean total column ozone. It is demonstrated that this method can increase the number of contributing observations by a factor of 2.5, increases the sampled time span, and reduces the spread of the representative time by half. The largest improvements in the daily mean estimate are seen on days with the smallest number of contributing direct sun observations. No effect on longer-term trends is detected, though for the sample data analysed we observe a mean increase of 2.8 DU (0.82 %) with respect to the traditional direct sun vs. zenith sky average choice. To complement the new calculation of a best representative value of total column ozone and separate its uncertainty from the spread of observations, we also propose reporting its standard error rather than the standard deviation, together with measures of the full range of values observed.

scholarly journals Spatial mapping of ground-based observations of total ozone

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 4487-4505 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.-L. Chang ◽  
S. Guillas ◽  
V. E. Fioletov
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Interpolation ◽  
Stochastic Partial Differential Equation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Total Column ◽  
Ozone Levels

Abstract. Total column ozone variations estimated using ground-based stations provide important independent source of information in addition to satellite-based estimates. This estimation has been vigorously challenged by data inhomogeneity in time and by the irregularity of the spatial distribution of stations, as well as by interruptions in observation records. Furthermore, some stations have calibration issues and thus observations may drift. In this paper we compare the spatial interpolation of ozone levels using the novel stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE) approach with the covariance-based kriging. We show how these new spatial predictions are more accurate, less uncertain and more robust. We construct long-term zonal means to investigate the robustness against the absence of measurements at some stations as well as instruments drifts. We conclude that time series analyzes can benefit from the SPDE approach compared to the covariance-based kriging when stations are missing, but the positive impact of the technique is less pronounced in the case of drifts.

scholarly journals Spatial mapping of ground-based observations of total ozone

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 3967-4009 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.-L. Chang ◽  
S. Guillas ◽  
V. E. Fioletov
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Interpolation ◽  
Stochastic Partial Differential Equation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Total Column ◽  
Ozone Levels

Abstract. Total column ozone variations estimated using ground-based stations provide important independent source of information in addition to satellite-based estimates. This estimation has been vigorously challenged by data inhomogeneity in time and by the irregularity of the spatial distribution of stations, as well as by interruptions in observation records. Furthermore, some stations have calibration issues and thus observations may drift. In this paper we compare the spatial interpolation of ozone levels using the novel stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE) approach with kriging. We show how these new spatial predictions are more accurate, less uncertain and more robust. We construct long-term zonal means to investigate the robustness against the absence of measurements at some stations as well as instruments drifts. We conclude that time series analyzes can benefit from the SPDE approach compared to kriging when stations are missing, but the positive impact of the technique is less pronounced in the case of drifts.

scholarly journals Antarctic ozone depletion between 1960 and 1980 in observations and chemistry–climate model simulations

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (24) ◽  
pp. 15619-15627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Langematz ◽  
Franziska Schmidt ◽  
Markus Kunze ◽  
Gregory E. Bodeker ◽  
Peter Braesicke
Keyword(s):  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Antarctic Ozone ◽  
Climate Model Simulations ◽  
Ozone Depleting Substances ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Total Column

Abstract. The year 1980 has often been used as a benchmark for the return of Antarctic ozone to conditions assumed to be unaffected by emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs), implying that anthropogenic ozone depletion in Antarctica started around 1980. Here, the extent of anthropogenically driven Antarctic ozone depletion prior to 1980 is examined using output from transient chemistry–climate model (CCM) simulations from 1960 to 2000 with prescribed changes of ozone-depleting substance concentrations in conjunction with observations. A regression model is used to attribute CCM modelled and observed changes in Antarctic total column ozone to halogen-driven chemistry prior to 1980. Wintertime Antarctic ozone is strongly affected by dynamical processes that vary in amplitude from year to year and from model to model. However, when the dynamical and chemical impacts on ozone are separated, all models consistently show a long-term, halogen-induced negative trend in Antarctic ozone from 1960 to 1980. The anthropogenically driven ozone loss from 1960 to 1980 ranges between 26.4 ± 3.4 and 49.8 ± 6.2 % of the total anthropogenic ozone depletion from 1960 to 2000. An even stronger ozone decline of 56.4 ± 6.8 % was estimated from ozone observations. This analysis of the observations and simulations from 17 CCMs clarifies that while the return of Antarctic ozone to 1980 values remains a valid milestone, achieving that milestone is not indicative of full recovery of the Antarctic ozone layer from the effects of ODSs.

scholarly journals Trend Quality Ozone from NPP OMPS: the Version 2 Processing

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard McPeters ◽  
Stacey Frith ◽  
Natalya Kramarova ◽  
Jerry Ziemke ◽  
Gordon Labow
Keyword(s):  
Trend Analysis ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Scattered Light ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Average Bias ◽  
Latitude Zone ◽  
Zonal Average ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Total Column

Abstract. A version 2 processing of data from two ozone monitoring instruments on Suomi NPP, the OMPS nadir ozone mapper and the OMPS nadir ozone profiler, has now been completed. The previously released data were useful for many purposes but were not suitable for use in ozone trend analysis. In this processing, instrument artifacts have been identified and corrected, an improved scattered light correction and wavelength registration have been applied, and soft calibration techniques were implemented to produce a calibration consistent with data from the series of SBUV/2 instruments. The result is a high quality ozone time series suitable for trend analysis. Total column ozone data from the OMPS nadir mapper now agree with data from the SBUV/2 instrument on NOAA 19 with a zonal average bias of −0.2 % over the 60° S to 60° N latitude zone. Differences are somewhat larger between OMPS nadir profiler and N19 total column ozone, with an average difference of −1.1  % over the 60° S to 60° N latitude zone and a residual seasonal variation of about 2 % at latitudes higher than about 50 degrees. For the profile retrieval, zonal average ozone in the upper stratosphere (between 2.5 and 4 hPa) agrees with that from NOAA 19 within ±3 % and an average bias of −1.1 %. In the lower stratosphere (between 25 and 40 hPa) agreement is within ±3 % with an average bias of +1.1 %. Tropospheric ozone produced by subtracting stratospheric ozone measured by the OMPS limb profiler from total column ozone measured by the nadir mapper is consistent with tropospheric ozone produced by subtracting stratospheric ozone from MLS from total ozone from the OMI instrument on Aura. The agreement of tropospheric ozone is within 10 % in most locations.

scholarly journals Future Arctic ozone recovery: the importance of chemistry and dynamics

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Bednarz ◽  
A. C. Maycock ◽  
N. L. Abraham ◽  
P. Braesicke ◽  
O. Dessens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Relative Role ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
The Future ◽  
Stratospheric Cooling ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Total Column

Abstract. Future trends in Arctic springtime total column ozone, and its chemical and dynamical drivers, are assessed using a 7 member ensemble from the Met Office Unified Model with United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosols (UM-UKCA) simulating the period 1960-2100. The Arctic mean March total column ozone increases throughout the 21st century at a rate of ~11.5 DU decade-1, and is projected to return to the 1980 level in the late 2030s. However, the integrations show that even past 2060 springtime Arctic ozone can episodically drop by ~50-100 DU below the long-term mean to near present day values. Consistent with the global decline in inorganic chlorine (Cly) over the century, the estimated mean halogen induced chemical ozone loss in the Arctic lower atmosphere in spring decreases by around a factor of two between 1981-2000 and 2061-2080. However, in the presence of a cold and strong polar vortex elevated halogen losses well above the long-term mean continue to occur in the simulations into the second part of the century. The ensemble shows a radiatively-driven cooling trend modelled in the Arctic winter mid- and upper stratosphere, but there is less consistency across the seven ensemble members in the lower stratosphere (100-50 hPa). This is partly due to an increase in downwelling over the Arctic polar cap in winter, which increases transport of ozone into the polar region as well as drives adiabatic warming that partly offsets the radiatively-driven stratospheric cooling. However, individual years characterised by significantly suppressed downwelling, reduced transport and low temperatures continue into the future. We conclude that despite the future long-term recovery of Arctic ozone, the large interannual dynamical variability is expected to continue thereby facilitating episodic reductions in springtime ozone columns. Whilst our results suggest that the relative role of dynamical processes for determining Arctic springtime ozone will increase in the future, halogen chemistry will remain a smaller but non-negligible contributor for many decades.

scholarly journals The world Brewer reference triad – updated performance assessment and new double triad

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 2261-2283
Author(s):  
Xiaoyi Zhao ◽  
Vitali Fioletov ◽  
Michael Brohart ◽  
Volodya Savastiouk ◽  
Ihab Abboud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Stray Light ◽  
Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Monitoring Instrument ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
The World ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Modern Era

Abstract. The Brewer ozone spectrophotometer (the Brewer) was designed at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the 1970s to make accurate automated total ozone column measurements. Since the 1980s, the Brewer instrument has become a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) standard ozone monitoring instrument. Now, more than 230 Brewers have been produced. To assure the quality of the Brewer measurements, a calibration chain is maintained, i.e., first, the reference instruments are independently absolutely calibrated, and then the calibration is transferred from the reference instrument to the travelling standard, and subsequently from the travelling standard to field instruments. ECCC has maintained the world Brewer reference instruments since the 1980s to provide transferable calibration to field instruments at monitoring sites. Three single-monochromator (Mark II) type instruments (serial numbers 008, 014, and 015) formed this world Brewer reference triad (BrT) and started their service in Toronto, Canada, in 1984. In the 1990s, the Mark III type Brewer (known as the double Brewer) was developed, which has two monochromators to reduce the internal instrumental stray light. The double-Brewer world reference triad (BrT-D) was formed in 2013 (serial numbers 145, 187 and 191), co-located with the BrT. The first assessment of the BrT's performance was made in 2005, covering the period between 1984 and 2004 (Fioletov et al., 2005). The current work provides an updated assessment of the BrT's performance (from 1999 to 2019) and the first comprehensive assessment of the BrT-D. The random uncertainties of individual reference instruments are within the WMO/GAW requirement of 1 % (WMO, 2001): 0.49 % and 0.42 % for BrT and BrT-D, respectively, as estimated in this study. The long-term stability of the reference instruments is also evaluated in terms of uncertainties of the key instrument characteristics: the extraterrestrial calibration constant (ETC) and effective ozone absorption coefficients (both having an effect of less than 2 % on total column ozone). Measurements from a ground-based instrument (Pandora spectrometer), satellites (11 datasets, including the most recent high-resolution satellite, TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument), and reanalysis model (the second Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, MERRA-2) are used to further assess the performance of world Brewer reference instruments and to provide a context for the requirements of stratospheric ozone observations during the last two decades.

scholarly journals Ozone trends derived from the total column and vertical profiles at a northern mid-latitude station

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 7081-7112 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Nair ◽  
S. Godin-Beekmann ◽  
J. Kuttippurath ◽  
G. Ancellet ◽  
F. Goutail ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Solar Flux ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Latitude Station ◽  
Ozone Trends ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Total Column

Abstract. The trends and variability of ozone are assessed over a northern mid-latitude station, Haute-Provence Observatory (OHP – 43.93° N, 5.71° E), using total column ozone observations from the Dobson and Système d'Analyse par Observation Zénithale spectrometers, and stratospheric ozone profile measurements from Light detection and ranging, ozonesondes, Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II, Halogen Occultation Experiment and Aura Microwave Limb Sounder. A multi-variate regression model with quasi biennial oscillation (QBO), solar flux, aerosol optical thickness, heat flux, North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) and piecewise linear trend (PWLT) or Equivalent Effective Stratospheric Chlorine (EESC) functions is applied to the ozone anomalies. The maximum variability of ozone in winter/spring is explained by QBO and heat flux in 15–45 km and in 15–24 km, respectively. The NAO shows maximum influence in the lower stratosphere during winter while the solar flux influence is largest in the lower and middle stratosphere in summer. The total column ozone trends estimated from the PWLT and EESC functions are of −1.39±0.26 and −1.40±0.25 DU yr−1, respectively over 1984–1996 and about 0.65±0.32 and 0.42±0.08 DU yr−1, respectively over 1997–2010. The ozone profiles yield similar and significant EESC-based and PWLT trends in 1984–1996 and are about −0.5 and −0.8 % yr−1 in the lower and upper stratosphere, respectively. In 1997–2010, the EESC-based and PWLT trends are significant and of order 0.3 and 0.1 % yr−1, respectively in the 18–28 km range, and at 40–45 km, EESC provides significant ozone trends larger than the insignificant PWLT results. Therefore, this analysis unveils ozone recovery signals from total column ozone and profile measurements at OHP, and hence in the mid-latitudes.

scholarly journals Global distribution and 14-year changes in erythemal irradiance, UV atmospheric transmission, and total column ozone for2005–2018 estimated from OMI and EPIC observations

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 8351-8380
Author(s):  
Jay Herman ◽  
Alexander Cede ◽  
Liang Huang ◽  
Jerald Ziemke ◽  
Omar Torres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Global Distribution ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Atmospheric Transmission ◽  
Low Latitude ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Uv Index ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Total Column

Abstract. Satellite data from the Ozone Measuring Instrument (OMI) and Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) are used to study long-term changes and global distribution of UV erythemal irradiance E(ζ,φ,z,t) (mW m−2) and the dimensionless UV index E ∕ (25 m Wm−2) over major cities as a function of latitude ζ, longitude φ, altitude z, and time t. Extremely high amounts of erythemal irradiance (12 < UV index <18) are found for many low-latitude and high-altitude sites (e.g., San Pedro, Chile, 2.45 km; La Paz, Bolivia, 3.78 km). Lower UV indices at some equatorial or high-altitude sites (e.g., Quito, Ecuador) occur because of persistent cloud effects. High UVI levels (UVI > 6) are also found at most mid-latitude sites during the summer months for clear-sky days. OMI time-series data starting in January 2005 to December 2018 are used to estimate 14-year changes in erythemal irradiance ΔE, total column ozone ΔTCO3, cloud and haze transmission ΔCT derived from scene reflectivity LER, and reduced transmission from absorbing aerosols ΔCA derived from absorbing aerosol optical depth τA for 191 specific cities in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere from 60∘ S to 60∘ N using publicly available OMI data. A list of the sites showing changes at the 1 standard deviation level 1σ is provided. For many specific sites there has been little or no change in E(ζ,φ,z,t) for the period 2005–2018. When the sites are averaged over 15∘ of latitude, there are strong correlation effects of both short- and long-term cloud and absorbing aerosol change as well as anticorrelation with total column ozone change ΔTCO3. Estimates of changes in atmospheric transmission ΔCT (ζ, φ, z, t) derived from OMI-measured cloud and haze reflectivity LER and averaged over 15∘ of latitude show an increase of 1.1±1.2 % per decade between 60 and 45∘ S, almost no average 14-year change of 0.03±0.5 % per decade from 55∘ S to 30∘ N, local increases and decreases from 20 to 30∘ N, and an increase of 1±0.9 % per decade from 35 to 60∘ N. The largest changes in E(ζ,φ,z,t) are driven by changes in cloud transmission CT. Synoptic EPIC radiance data from the sunlit Earth are used to derive ozone and reflectivity needed for global images of the distribution of E(ζ,φ,z,t) from sunrise to sunset centered on the Americas, Europe–Africa, and Asia. EPIC data are used to show the latitudinal distribution of E(ζ,φ,z,t) from the Equator to 75∘ for specific longitudes. EPIC UV erythemal images show the dominating effect of solar zenith angle (SZA), the strong increase in E with altitude, and the decreases caused by cloud cover. The nearly cloud-free images of E(ζ,φ,z,t) over Australia during the summer (December) show regions of extremely high UVI (14–16) covering large parts of the continent. Zonal averages show a maximum of UVI = 14 in the equatorial region seasonally following latitudes where SZA = 0∘. Dangerously high amounts of erythemal irradiance (12 < UV index < 18) are found for many low-latitude and high-altitude sites. High levels of UVI are known to lead to health problems (skin cancer and eye cataracts) with extended unprotected exposure, as shown in the extensive health statistics maintained by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the United States National Institute of Health National Cancer Institute.

scholarly journals Evidence for a continuous decline in lower stratospheric ozone offsetting ozone layer recovery

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 1379-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T. Ball ◽  
Justin Alsing ◽  
Daniel J. Mortlock ◽  
Johannes Staehelin ◽  
Joanna D. Haigh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Ozone Layer ◽  
Montreal Protocol ◽  
Downward Trend ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Total Column Ozone ◽  
Ozone Depleting Substances ◽  
Column Ozone ◽  
Total Column

Abstract. Ozone forms in the Earth's atmosphere from the photodissociation of molecular oxygen, primarily in the tropical stratosphere. It is then transported to the extratropics by the Brewer–Dobson circulation (BDC), forming a protective ozone layer around the globe. Human emissions of halogen-containing ozone-depleting substances (hODSs) led to a decline in stratospheric ozone until they were banned by the Montreal Protocol, and since 1998 ozone in the upper stratosphere is rising again, likely the recovery from halogen-induced losses. Total column measurements of ozone between the Earth's surface and the top of the atmosphere indicate that the ozone layer has stopped declining across the globe, but no clear increase has been observed at latitudes between 60° S and 60° N outside the polar regions (60–90°). Here we report evidence from multiple satellite measurements that ozone in the lower stratosphere between 60° S and 60° N has indeed continued to decline since 1998. We find that, even though upper stratospheric ozone is recovering, the continuing downward trend in the lower stratosphere prevails, resulting in a downward trend in stratospheric column ozone between 60° S and 60° N. We find that total column ozone between 60° S and 60° N appears not to have decreased only because of increases in tropospheric column ozone that compensate for the stratospheric decreases. The reasons for the continued reduction of lower stratospheric ozone are not clear; models do not reproduce these trends, and thus the causes now urgently need to be established.

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