Variability in sun photometer derived summertime total column ozone over the Indian station Maitri in the Antarctic region

• Main Authors: Sonbawne, SM, Raj, PE, Devara, PCS, Dani, KK
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2009
• Subjects: Meteorology and Climatology; Antarctic; Indian; Maitri; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://moeseprints.incois.gov.in/1733/; http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01431160902826592

Extensive observations of total column ozone (TCO) made over the Antarctic region at the Indian station 'Maitri' (70.76oS, 11.74oE) during two summer periods of 2004-2005 and 2006-2007 using a ground-based optical remote sensing instrument (ozonometer) have been examined to study the short-term variations. Mean TCO during 2004-05 summer was 288.7 DU with a variability of 8 and the corresponding values during 2006-2007 summer were 280.4 DU and 11. Both ozonometer and Dobson spectrophotometer measurements at this Antarctic station during January 2005 showed a short-term decrease in TCO by about 70 DU before regaining original value. Simultaneous changes in precipitable water and surface temperature points to a possible interplay of chemistry and meteorological conditions. Occurrence of an intense solar proton event in January 2005 also suggests the possible role of precipitating charged particles in causing short-lived ozone decrease through production of OH radical.