Large decadal scale changes of polar ozone suggest solar influence
International audience Long-term measurements of Arctic ozone show an unexpectedly large decadal scale variability in the mid-stratosphere during winter. Negative ozone anomalies are strongly correlated with the flux of energetic electrons in the radiation belt, which is modulated by the 11-year sol...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Other Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
HAL CCSD
2005
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hal.science/hal-00301949 https://hal.science/hal-00301949/document https://hal.science/hal-00301949/file/acpd-5-12103-2005.pdf |
Summary: | International audience Long-term measurements of Arctic ozone show an unexpectedly large decadal scale variability in the mid-stratosphere during winter. Negative ozone anomalies are strongly correlated with the flux of energetic electrons in the radiation belt, which is modulated by the 11-year solar cycle. The magnitude of the observed decadal ozone changes (?20%) is much larger than any previously reported solar cycle effect in the atmosphere up to this altitude. The early-winter ozone anomalies subsequently propagate downward into the lower stratosphere and may even influence total ozone and meteorological conditions during spring. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized mechanism by which solar variability impacts on climate through changes in polar ozone. |
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