The temporal behavior of upper stratospheric ozone at low latitudes: Evidence from Nimbus 4 BUV data for short‐term responses to solar ultraviolet variability

Abstract

Ozone mixing ratios at pressure levels near 2 mbar, derived from Nimbus 4 backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) profile data and averaged within 13 latitude zones between 65°N and 65°S, are studied for the period November 1970 to April 1972. In agreement with previous analyses the largest temporal variations are negatively correlated with changes in zonally averaged equivalent temperature measured simultaneously with the Nimbus 4 selective chopper radiometer. After approximately removing this component using a first‐order photochemical model, residual mixing ratios for latitudes ≲30° contain short‐term variations (periods ≲35 days; rms amplitude ∼1%) that are positively correlated with variations in the solar 10.7‐cm flux and in the 185–190 nm solar ultraviolet flux model of Lean et al. (1982). The correlation coefficients (R = 0.2–0.5; p> 0.95) are larger for each latitude zone when computed versus the ultraviolet flux model than when computed versus the 10.7‐cm flux, suggesting that photochemical responses of upper stratospheric ozone to solar ultraviolet variability at wavelengths near 200 nm are primarily responsible. At latitudes ≳40°, larger‐amplitude wintertime ozone fluctuations associated with planetary‐scale pressure waves become dominant and reduce the computed correlation coefficients to statistically insignificant levels. Linear regression analyses are performed to obtain estimates for the average percent change of ozone at low latitudes and on the considered time scale for given changes in 10.7‐cm flux and in the UV flux model.

27-day variation in cloud amount in the Western Pacific warm pool region and relationship to the solar cycle

“…But it should be noted that there exist some sceptical standpoints toward the solar effect, such as Damon and Laut (2004). Variations in the stratosphere related to the period of apparent solar rotation have also been suggested (Nastrom and Belmont, 1978;Hood, 1984); however, for such a short period, no quantitative evidence exists to indicate a relationship between solar activity and tropospheric phenomena. Here we focus on cloud amount variation with ∼1 month periodicity using Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) and examine the modulation of the periodicity, paying attention to 11-year solar cycle.…”

A partial correlation analysis of the stratospheric ozone response to 27‐day solar UV variations with temperature effect removed

“…The response of stratospheric ozone to solar UV flux changes occurring on the timescale of the 27-day solar rotation period has been extensively studied since satellite data became available [Gille et al, 1984;Hood, 1984;Keating et al, 1985;Chandra, 1986;Hood, 1986;Lean, 1987;Hood and Zhou, 1998]. Statistical and spectral analyses, including cross-correlation analyses, are useful mathematical tools for such studies.…”

“…This temperature-induced ozone variation was removed from the ozone data in early studies by using a model for the ozone-temperature relationship prior to cross-correlation analyses [Hood, 1984]. Later, with improved data quality in both ozone and solar UV, direct…”

The effect of the solar rotational irradiance variation on the middle and upper atmosphere calculated by a three-dimensional chemistry-climate model

“…Hood, 1984Hood, , 1986Hood, , 1987Gille et al, 1984;Chandra, 1985;Keating et al, 1985Keating et al, , 1987Eckman, 1986b;Hood and Cantrell, 1988;Hood et al, 1991;Chandra et al, 1994; Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 596 A. N. Gruzdev et al: Effect of solar rotational variation on the atmosphere Fleming et al, 1995;Zhou et al, 1997Zhou et al, , 2000Zhou, 1998, Ruzmaikin et al, 2007).…”