1.6 Analysis of low ozone in the 1997 Southern Hemisphere

Monday, 10 January 2000: 10:45 AM
Simon Grainger, Cooperative Research Centre for Southern Hemisphere Meteorology, Monash Univ., Clayton, Vic., Australia

1997 was notable for the anomalously low ozone observed at Southern Hemisphere middle latitudes. This is investigated through the analysis of the ozone mixing ratio distribution using all available satellite-based data. The Ozone Assimilation System (OASYS) uses Statistical Interpolation to analyse data every 6 hours onto a global 2.5 degree horizontal grid with 19 pressure levels between 1000 and 0.3hPa. Back trajectory Reverse Domain Filling is used to advect the analysed ozone to obtain the next first-guess field.

The evolution of lower stratospheric ozone in 1997 is described and validated against ozonesonde data. Potential reasons for the low ozone are examined.

- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner