Variability of Stratospheric Ozone during 2005-2012 Inferred from OMI and MLS Ozone Profile Data Records

Abstract:

Variability of parial column ozone for the stratospheric layers during the 8-year period (2005-2012) has been investigated using the two ozone profile data records: (i) SAO/OMPROF [the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Optimal Estimation ozone profile algorithm applied to Ozone Monitoring Instrument(OMI)], and (ii) AURA/MLS (v3.3). Consistency in the upper stratosphere, middle stratosphere and lower stratosphere has been examined through the comparison of (a) the monthly zonal mean time series and (b) the monthly zonal mean anomalies based on latitudinal zones (60S-30S), (0-30S), (0-30N), and (30N-60N).

For the 8-year overlap period, it has been found that the averages and standard deviations of the differences in monthly zonal mean partial column ozone vary between -1.0% to 2.3% and 0.9% to 2.9% respectively, depending on the latitude band. The differences in monthly zonal mean anomalies also show very good agreement, with standard deviations of less than 1%. The only exception is in the upper stratosphere where the corresponding standard deviations range between 1.6% and 2.1%.

Results of additional studies will be shown to illustrate further improvement in the agreement between OMI and MLS, after deriving the OMI monthly zonal mean using homogeneous cross-track pixels to avoid the effects due to Row Anomaly which has become significant since January 2009.