On the Impact of Different Coordinate Systems upon Ozone Trends Variabilities

Ozone trend estimates have shown large uncertainties in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) region due to the high degree of spatial and temporal variability. This variability is in part caused by competing transport, chemical, and mixing processes near the tropopause, variations in the tropopause location, as well as the position of the subtropical and polar jets.

Using 15 years of Microwave Limb Sounder data, we will study the impact of using different coordinates systems upon uncertainties of UTLS ozone trend estimates. In principle, different coordinate systems should help us isolate different sources of variability. The coordinate systems to be used include simply using potential temperature instead of pressure, tropopause coordinate systems, and jet coordinate systems (horizontal and vertical).

This research is being performed as part of the OCTAV-UTLS (Observed Composition Trends and Variability in the UTLS) initiative which is part of the SPARC (Stratosphere-troposphere Processes And their Role in Climate) community.

© 2019 California Institute of Technology. U.S. Government sponsorship acknowledged.