Dobson total ozone series of Oxford: Reevaluation and applications

Abstract

[1] We have reevaluated the original total ozone measurements made in Oxford between 1924 and 1957, with a view to extending backward in time the existing total ozone series from 1957 to 1975. The Oxford measurements are the oldest Dobson observations in the world. Their prime importance, when coupled with the series from Arosa (since 1926) and Tromsø (since 1935), is for increasing basic understanding of stratospheric ozone and dynamics, while in relation to studies of the recent ozone depletion they constitute a baseline of considerable (and unique) significance and value. However, the reevaluation was made difficult on account of changes to the instruments and wavelengths as the early data collection methods evolved, while unknowns due to the influence of aerosols and the possible presence of dioxides of sulphur and nitrogen created additional problems. Our reevaluation was based on statistical procedures (comparisons with meteorological upper air data and ozone series from Arosa) and also on corrections suggested by Dobson himself. The comparisons demonstrate that the data are internally consistent and of good quality. Nevertheless, as post-1957 data were not assessed in this study, the series cannot be recommended at present for trend analysis, though the series can be used for climatological studies. By supplementing the Oxford data with other existing series, we present a European total ozone climatology for 1924-1939, 1950-1965, and 1988-2000 and analyze the data with respect to variables measuring the strength and the temperature of the polar vortex.

Reconstruction of Global Monthly Upper-Level Temperature and Geopotential Height Fields Back to 1880

“…(Switzerland), 1926-2002(Staehelin et al 1998 Tromsø (Norway), 1935-72 (Hansen andSvenøe 2005); Oxford (United Kingdom), 1924-75(Vogler et al 2007); New York(United States), 1941-44, and Shanghai (China), 1932- 42 (Brö nnimann et al 2003; and Canberra (Australia),1929 -32 (unpublished, reevaluated as in Brö nnimann et al 2003. Where no station data were available after 1978, Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) total ozone data (version 8) were used to supplement the series.…”

The potential value of early (1939–1967) upper‐air data in atmospheric climate reanalysis

“…We use historical ozone data from the World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Center (WOUDC) from 1939 to 1963. Among the series are long ones such as the well‐studied series from Arosa, Switzerland (46.8°N, 9.7°E: Staehelin et al, ) or Dobson's original series from Oxford, UK (51.8°N, 1.2°W: Vogler et al, ), but also many shorter series (see Brönnimann et al . () for an overview).…”

“…Historical total ozone stations used in this study . Vogler et al, 2007), but also many shorter series (see Brönnimann et al (2003) for an overview). We use the same selection as in Brönnimann and Compo (2012), but some of the stations used in that study do not have data after 1939.…”

Interannual-to-decadal variability of the stratosphere during the 20th century: ensemble simulations with a chemistry-climate model

“…1901-1930 (upper left), 1931-1960 (upper right), 1961-1980 (middle left) and 1981-1999 (middle right). Measurement onboard satellites of BUV (1970BUV ( -1976 and NIWA (1981NIWA ( -1999 (Vogler et al, 2006;Vogler et al, 2007) and provide an excellent data source to validate decadal scale transient simulations with a CCM. The ensemble members of SOCOL are in reasonable agreement with observations.…”