Influence of Artic Stratospheric Ozone on Surface Climate in CCMI models

The Northern Hemisphere and tropical circulation response to interannual variability in Arctic stratospheric ozone,
is analyzed in a set of the latest model simulations archived for the Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative (CCMI) project.
All models simulate a connection between ozone variability and temperature/geopotential height in the lower stratosphere
similar to that observed. A connection between Arctic ozone variability and polar cap sea-level pressure is also found, but
additional analysis suggests that it is mediated through the effect of ozone on the dynamics of the polar lower stratosphere. The
CCMI models also show a connection between Arctic stratospheric ozone and the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO): the
CCMI models show a tendency of ASO variability to lead ENSO variability one to two years later. While this effect is much
weaker than that observed, it is still statistically significant. Overall, Arctic stratospheric ozone is related to lower stratospheric
variability and may also influence the surface in both polar and tropical latitudes.