ALBERT

Description: The ozone profile records of a large number of limb and occultation satellite instruments are widely used to address several key questions in ozone research. Further progress in some domains depends on a more detailed understanding of these data sets, especially of their long-term stability and their mutual consistency. To this end, we made a systematic assessment of 14 limb and occultation sounders that, together, provide more than three decades of global ozone profile measurements. In particular, we considered the latest operational Level-2 records by SAGE II, SAGE III, HALOE, UARS MLS, Aura MLS, POAM II, POAM III, OSIRIS, SMR, GOMOS, MIPAS, SCIAMACHY, ACE-FTS and MAESTRO. Central to our work is a consistent and robust analysis of the comparisons against the ground-based ozonesonde and stratospheric ozone lidar networks. It allowed us to investigate, from the troposphere up to the stratopause, the following main aspects of satellite data quality: long-term stability, overall bias and short-term variability, together with their dependence on geophysical parameters and profile representation. In addition, it permitted us to quantify the overall consistency between the ozone profilers. Generally, we found that between 20 and 40 km the satellite ozone measurement biases are smaller than ±5 %, the short-term variabilities are less than 5–12 % and the drifts are at most ±5 %  per decade (or even ±3 % per  decade for a few records). The agreement with ground-based data degrades somewhat towards the stratopause and especially towards the tropopause where natural variability and low ozone abundances impede a more precise analysis. In part of the stratosphere a few records deviate from the preceding general conclusions; we identified biases of 10 % and more (POAM II and SCIAMACHY), markedly higher single-profile variability (SMR and SCIAMACHY) and significant long-term drifts (SCIAMACHY, OSIRIS, HALOE and possibly GOMOS and SMR as well). Furthermore, we reflected on the repercussions of our findings for the construction, analysis and interpretation of merged data records. Most notably, the discrepancies between several recent ozone profile trend assessments can be mostly explained by instrumental drift. This clearly demonstrates the need for systematic comprehensive multi-instrument comparison analyses.

Description: This paper presents for the first time results on winds, tides, gradients of horizontal winds, and momentum fluxes at mesosphere and lower thermosphere altitudes over southern Patagonia, one of the most dynamically active regions in the world. For this purpose, measurements provided by SIMONe Argentina are investigated. SIMONe Argentina is a novel multistatic specular meteor radar system that implements a Spread‐spectrum Interferometric Multistatic meteor radar Observing Network (SIMONe) approach, and that has been operating since the end of September 2019. Average counts of more than 30,000 meteor detections per day result in tidal estimates with statistical uncertainties of less than 1 m/s. Thanks to the multistatic configuration, horizontal and vertical gradients of the horizontal winds are obtained, as well as vertical winds free from horizontal divergence contamination. The vertical gradients of both zonal and meridional winds exhibit strong tidal signatures. Mean momentum fluxes are estimated after removing the effects of mean winds using a 4‐h, 8‐km window in time and altitude, respectively. Reasonable statistical uncertainties of the momentum fluxes are obtained after applying a 28‐day averaging. Therefore, the momentum flux estimates presented in this paper represent monthly mean values of waves with periods of 4 h or less, vertical wavelengths shorter than 8 km, and horizontal scales less than 400 km.

Description: Key Points: First observations of mesosphere and lower thermosphere dynamics over one of the most dynamically active regions in the world Estimates of mean horizontal winds and their gradients are possible, thanks to the multistatic configuration Mean momentum fluxes are estimated with vertical velocity estimates free of horizontal divergence contamination

Description: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

Description: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002347

Description: This study evaluates the agreement between ozone profiles derived from the ground-based differential absorption lidar (DIAL), satellite-borne Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), and 3-D chemical transport model (CTM) simulations such as the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate (MIROC-CTM) over the Atmospheric Observatory of Southern Patagonia (Observatorio Atmosférico de la Patagonia Austral, OAPA; 51.6° S, 69.3° W) in Río Gallegos, Argentina, from September to November 2009. In this austral spring, measurements were performed in the vicinity of the polar vortex and inside it on some occasions; they revealed the variability in the potential vorticity (PV) of measured air masses. Comparisons between DIAL and MLS were performed between 6 and 100 hPa with 500 km and 24 h coincidence criteria. The results show a good agreement between DIAL and MLS with mean differences of ±0.1 ppmv (MLS − DIAL, n  =  180) between 6 and 56 hPa. MIROC-CTM also agrees with DIAL, with mean differences of ±0.3 ppmv (MIROC-CTM − DIAL, n  =  23) between 10 and 56 hPa. Both comparisons provide mean differences of 0.5 ppmv (MLS) to 0.8–0.9 ppmv (MIROC-CTM) at the 83–100 hPa levels. DIAL tends to underestimate ozone values at this lower altitude region. Between 6 and 8 hPa, the MIROC-CTM ozone value is 0.4–0.6 ppmv (5–8 %) smaller than those from DIAL. Applying the scaled PV (sPV) criterion for matching pairs in the DIAL–MLS comparison, the variability in the difference decreases 21–47 % between 10 and 56 hPa. However, the mean differences are small for all pressure levels, except 6 hPa. Because ground measurement sites in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) are very sparse at mid- to high latitudes, i.e., 35–60° S, the OAPA site is important for evaluating the bias and long-term stability of satellite instruments. The good performance of this DIAL system will be useful for such purposes in the future.

Description: The long-term evolution of total ozone column inside the Antarctic polar vortex is investigated over the 1980–2017 period. Trend analyses are performed using a multilinear regression (MLR) model based on various proxies for the evaluation of ozone interannual variability (heat flux, quasi-biennial oscillation, solar flux, Antarctic oscillation and aerosols). Annual total ozone column measurements corresponding to the mean monthly values inside the vortex in September and during the period of maximum ozone depletion from 15 September to 15 October are used. Total ozone columns from the Multi-Sensor Reanalysis version 2 (MSR-2) dataset and from a combined record based on TOMS and OMI satellite datasets with gaps filled by MSR-2 (1993–1995) are considered in the study. Ozone trends are computed by a piece-wise trend (PWT) proxy that includes two linear functions before and after the turnaround year in 2001 and a parabolic function to account for the saturation of the polar ozone destruction. In order to evaluate average total ozone within the vortex, two classification methods are used, based on the potential vorticity gradient as a function of equivalent latitude. The first standard one considers this gradient at a single isentropic level (475 or 550 K), while the second one uses a range of isentropic levels between 400 and 600 K. The regression model includes a new proxy (GRAD) linked to the gradient of potential vorticity as a function of equivalent latitude and representing the stability of the vortex during the studied month. The determination coefficient (R2) between observations and modelled values increases by ∼ 0.05 when this proxy is included in the MLR model. Highest R2 (0.92–0.95) and minimum residuals are obtained for the second classification method for both datasets and months. Trends in September over the 2001–2017 period are statistically significant at 2σ level with values ranging between 1.84 ± 1.03 and 2.83 ± 1.48 DU yr−1 depending on the methods and considered proxies. This result confirms the recent studies of Antarctic ozone healing during that month. Trends from 2001 are 2 to 3 times smaller than before the turnaround year, as expected from the response to the slowly ozone-depleting substances decrease in polar regions. For the first time, significant trends are found for the period of maximum ozone depletion. Estimated trends from 2001 for the 15 September–15 October period over 2001–2017 vary from 1.21 ± 0.83 to 1.96 DU ± 0.99 yr−1 and are significant at 2σ level. MLR analysis is also applied to the ozone mass deficit (OMD) metric for both periods, considering a threshold at 220 DU and total ozone columns south of 60∘ S. Significant trend values are observed for all cases and periods. A decrease of OMD of 0.86 ± 0.36 and 0.65 ± 0.33 Mt yr−1 since 2001 is observed in September and 15 September–15 October, respectively. Ozone recovery is also confirmed by a steady decrease of the relative area of total ozone values lower than 175 DU within the vortex in the 15 September–15 October period since 2010 and a delay in the occurrence of ozone levels below 125 DU since 2005.

Description: Subpolar regions in the southern hemisphere are influenced by the Antarctic polar vortex during austral spring, which induces high and short term ozone variability at different altitudes mainly into the stratosphere. This variation may affect considerably the total ozone column changing the harmful UV radiation that reaches the surface. With the aim to study ozone with high time resolution at different altitudes in subpolar regions, a Millimeter Wave Radiometer (MWR) was installed at the Observatorio Atmosférico de la Patagonia Austral (OAPA), Río Gallegos, Argentina, (51.6° S; 69.3° W) by 2011. This instrument provides ozone profiles with time resolution of ~ 1 hour which enables studies of short term ozone mixing ratio variability from 25 to 70 km in altitude. This work presents the MWR ozone observations between October 2014 and 2015 focusing on an atypical event of polar vortex and ozone hole influence over Río Gallegos detected from the MWR measurements at 27 and 37 km during November of 2014. The advected potential vorticity (APV) calculated from the high-resolution advection model MIMOSA (Modélisation Isentrope du transport Méso-échelle de l'Ozone Stratosphérique par Advection) was also analysed at 675 and 950 K to understand and explain the dynamic at both altitudes and correlate the ozone rapid variation during the event with the passage of the polar vortex. In addition, the MWR dataset were compared for first time with measurements obtained from Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) at individual altitude levels (27 km, 37 km and 65 km) and with the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) installed in OAPA to analyse the correspondence between the MWR and independent instruments. The MWR-MLS comparison presents reasonable correlation with a mean bias error of +5 %, −11 % and −7 % at 27 km, 37 km and 65 km, respectively. The MWR-DIAL comparison at 27 km presents also good agreement with a mean bias error of −1 %.

Description: The long-term evolution of total ozone column inside the Antarctic polar vortex is investigated over the 1980–2016 period. Trend analyses are performed using a multilinear regression (MLR) model based on various proxies (heat flux, Quasi-Biennial Oscillation, solar flux, Antarctic Oscillation and aerosols). Annual total ozone column corresponding to the mean monthly values inside the vortex in September and during the period of maximum ozone depletion from September 15th to October 15th are used. Total ozone columns from combined SBUV, TOMS and OMI satellite datasets and the Multi-Sensor Reanalysis (MSR-2) dataset are considered in the study. Ozone trends are computed by a piecewise trend model (PWT) before and after the turnaround in 2001. In order to evaluate total ozone within the vortex, two classification methods are used, based on the potential vorticity gradient as a function of equivalent latitude. The first standard one considers this gradient at a single isentropic level (475 K or 550 K), while the second one uses a range of isentropic levels between 400 K and 600 K. The regression model includes a new proxy that represents the stability of the vortex during the studied month period. The determination coefficient (R2) between observations and modeled values increases by ~ 0.05 when this proxy is included in the MLR model. The higher R2 (0.93–0.95) and the minimum residuals are observed for the second classification method for both datasets and months periods. Trends in September are statistically significant at 2 sigma level over 2001–2016 period with values ranging between 1.85 and 2.67 DU yr−1 depending on the methods and data sets. This result confirms the recent studies of Antarctic ozone healing during that month. Trends after 2001 are 2 to 3 times lower than before the turnaround year as expected from the response to the slowly ozone-depleting substances decrease in Polar regions. Estimated trends in the 15 Sept–15 Oct period are smaller than in September. They vary from 1.15 to 1.78 DU yr−1 and are hardly significant at 2σ level. Ozone recovery is also confirmed by a steady decrease of the relative area of total ozone values lower than 150 DU within the vortex in the 15 Sept–15 Oct period since 2010. Comparison of the evolution of the ozone hole area in September and October shows a decrease in September, confirming the later formation of the ozone hole during that month.

Description: This study evaluates the agreement between ozone profiles derived from the ground-based DIfferential Absorption Lidar (DIAL), satellite-borne Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), and 3-D chemical transport model simulations (MIROC-CTM) over the South Patagonian Atmospheric Observatory (OAPA, 51.6° S, 69.3° W) in Río Gallegos, Argentina from September to November 2009. In this austral spring, measurements were performed in the vicinity of the polar vortex, and inside it on some occasions; they revealed the variability in potential vorticity (PV) of measured air masses. Comparisons between DIAL and MLS were performed between 6 hPa and 100 hPa with 500 km and 24 h coincidence criteria. The results show a good agreement between DIAL and MLS with mean differences of ±0.1 ppmv (MLS – DIAL, n = 180) between 6 hPa and 56 hPa. MIROC-CTM also agrees to DIAL, with mean differences of ±0.3 ppmv (MIROC-CTM – DIAL, n = 23) between 10 hPa and 56 hPa. Both comparisons provide mean differences of 0.5 ppmv (MLS) to 0.8–0.9 ppmv (MIROC-CTM) at the 83–100 hPa levels. DIAL tends to underestimate ozone values at this lower altitude region. Between 6 hPa and 8 hPa, the MIROC-CTM ozone value is 0.4–0.6 ppmv (5–8 %) smaller than those from DIAL. Applying the scaled PV criterion for matching pairs in the DIAL/MLS comparison, the variability in the difference decreases 21–47 % between 10 hPa and 56 hPa. However, the mean differences are slight for all pressure levels, except 6 hPa. Because ground measurement sites in the Southern Hemisphere are very sparse at mid- to high-latitudes, i.e., 35–60° S, the OAPA site is unique for evaluating the bias and long-term stability of satellite instruments. The good performance of this DIAL system will be useful for such purposes in the future.

Description: The ozone profile records of a large number of limb and occultation satellite instruments are widely used to address several key questions in ozone research. Further progress in some domains depends on a more detailed understanding of these data sets, especially of their long-term stability and their mutual consistency. To this end, we made a systematic assessment of 14 limb and occultation sounders that, together, provide more than three decades of global ozone profile measurements. In particular, we considered the latest operational Level-2 records by SAGE II, SAGE III, HALOE, UARS MLS, Aura MLS, POAM II, POAM III, OSIRIS, SMR, GOMOS, MIPAS, SCIAMACHY, ACE-FTS and MAESTRO. Central to our work is a consistent and robust analysis of the comparisons against the ground-based ozonesonde and stratospheric ozone lidar networks. It allowed us to investigate, from the troposphere up to the stratopause, the following main aspects of satellite data quality: long-term stability, overall bias and short-term variability, together with their dependence on geophysical parameters and profile representation. In addition, it permitted us to quantify the overall consistency between the ozone profilers. Generally, we found that between 20 and 40 km the satellite ozone measurement biases are smaller than ±5 %, the short-term variabilities are less than 5–12 % and the drifts are at most ±5 % decade−1 (or even ±3 % decade−1 for a few records). The agreement with ground-based data degrades somewhat towards the stratopause and especially towards the tropopause where natural variability and low ozone abundances impede a more precise analysis. In part of the stratosphere a few records deviate from the preceding general conclusions; we identified biases of 10 % and more (POAM II and SCIAMACHY), markedly higher single-profile variability (SMR and SCIAMACHY) and significant long-term drifts (SCIAMACHY, OSIRIS, HALOE and possibly GOMOS and SMR as well). Furthermore, we reflected on the repercussions of our findings for the construction, analysis and interpretation of merged data records. Most notably, the discrepancies between several recent ozone profile trend assessments can be mostly explained by instrumental drift. This clearly demonstrates the need for systematic comprehensive multi-instrument comparison analyses.