Periodic variations of total ozone and of its vertical distribution

• Main Authors: Wilcox, R. W., Nastrom, G. D., Belmont, A. D.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1977
• Subjects: 46; Arctic; Siberia
• Online Access: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19770050347

The phase and amplitude of the annual, semiannual, and quasi-biennial oscillations to total ozone data for the Northern Hemisphere in the period 1957-1972 and for Northern Hemisphere ozonesonde data for variable periods from 1962-1974 have been plotted as functions of latitude, longitude, and altitude. The largest annual wave amplitude in total ozone occurs over eastern Siberia. In total ozone, the region of maximum quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) coincides with that of the annual wave. The major feature of the QBO in the vertical distribution is the maximum amplitude in the arctic just above the tropopause. As for the semiannual wave, the maximum in total ozone lies in the arctic, displaced slightly to the Siberian side. In the vertical, its maximum amplitude is near 18 km. The phase appears to progress poleward, with maxima at high latitudes occurring in March-April.