Global distribution of minor constituents observed by SMILES and its dynamical background

The Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) is an instrument attached to the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) on the International Space Station (ISS). It makes observation of the global 3-dimensional distribution of the minor constituents in the middle atmosphere, such as O3 and some species related to ozone depletion (HCl, ClO, and so on), by sounding limb-emission from them in the spectral band A (624.32 - 625.52 GHz), band B (625.12 - 626.32 GHz), or band C (649.12 - 650.32 GHz). The available data period at present covers over half a year since October 12, 2009.

During this period, the observed ozone distribution in the tropical stratosphere shows two maxima in latitude. It corresponds to the meridional circulation related to the shear phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). Other minor species such as HCl also shows effect of the meridional circulation.

In winter polar region, on the other hand, the distribution of constituents shows influence of a major stratospheric sudden warming. As the polar vortex has been distorted, depletion of ozone and increase of species such as ClO have been observed.