Ozone vertical distribution

Wang, W.-C., Y.-C. Zhuang, and R. D. Bojkov, Climate Implications of Observed Changes in Ozone Vertical Distributions at Middle and High Latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, Geophys. Res. Lett.., 20, 1567-1570 (1993). 

W-Ch. Wang, Yi Zhuang, R.D.Bojkov, (1993) Climate implications of observed changes in the ozone vertical distributions at middle and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, GRL,August,20, p. 1567-1570... 

The development of a unique method (12), originally described by Strong (55) in 1941, whereby it is possible to determine the mean height of the ozone layer through measurements of the pressure-sensitive infrared absorption of the ozone molecule and comparison with determinations of the total amount of ozone based upon ultraviolet spectroscopic measurements has given added impetus to routine ozone vertical distribution determinations. This method permits the evaluation of the approximate vertical distribution of the ozone solely from the use of surface observations. Preliminary results (12) indicate that there is no simple relation between the vertical distribution of ozone and the total amount present in the atmosphere at any given time. When routine measurements are established over a network of... 

Although the ecological consequences of enhanced UVB exposure to algal species are still largely unexplored, some data exist and some assumptions can be made. Based on the differential adaptation and acclimation capabilities in different algal species, UVB may, even under non-depleted ozone conditions, substantially affect the structure of communities, as well as modulate productivity, reproduction, vertical distribution, biodiversity and succession, competition, and alga-herbivore interactions (Bischof et al. 2006a). 

Coupled closely with the effect causing horizontal distributions are the vertical distributions of ozone concentrations. These distributions have an intimate influence on the urban-rural interchange of ozone. Miller and Ahrens presented detailed vertical time and space cross sections of ozone concentrations at altitudes up to 2,500 m. A low-altitude temperature inversion may actually lead to lower concentrations of oxidant, because the destruction rate can be increased by the injection of nitric... 

Logan, J. A., Trends in the Vertical Distribution of Ozone An Analysis of Ozonesonde Data, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 25553-25585... 

In my filosofie licentiat thesis of 1968 at Stockholm University I analyzed this proposal and concluded that the rate constants that had been chosen for reactions R5 and R6 could not explain the vertical distribution of ozone in the stratosphere above 25 km. Furthermore, the above choice of rate constants would also lead to unrealistically rapid loss of ozone (on a timescale of only a few days) in the troposphere (9). Anticipating a possible role of HO in tropospheric chemistry, I also briefly mentioned the potential importance of a tropospheric reaction between HO with CH4. In fact, it was soon found that reactions R5 and R6 proceed about 25 and 10 times slower, respectively, than the values given above. 

The vertical distribution of ozone was measured by ozonesonde ascents at Thessaloniki and by the Falcon aircraft (PAUR-ATOP joint experiment) in the 0-12 km region in the flight path Athens-Aghios Efstratios-Thessaloniki (Fig. 3). Ozonesonde ascents allowed for the integration of lower (500 m - 2500 m) and upper (2500 m to the measured tropopause) tropospheric ozone columns (Fig. 5). The main results of the above measurements can be summarised as follows ... 

Perturbations in the vertical distribution of ozone together with their implications for chemistry and climate are of main importance, rather than aircraft-induced changes in the total ozone column. 

Human activity has also caused ozone changes, due to emissions of substances that deplete ozone in the stratosphere and precursors that generate ozone in the troposphere. The ozone changes, in particular in the troposphere, vary on regional scales. As discussed in WMO (1995 1999) and IPCC (1996) the radiative forcing due to ozone has a longwave as well as a shortwave component and there is a critical dependence on the vertical distribution of ozone changes. 

SPARC - Stratospheric Processes And their Role in Cliamte, Assesment of Trends in the Vertical Distribution of Ozone, edited by N. Harris, R. Hudson and C. Philips, SPARC Report No.l, WMO Ozone Research and Monitoring Project Report No. 43,1998... 

Krasnopol skiy, V.A. (1966) The ultraviolet spectrum of solar radiation reflected by the terrestrial atmosphere and its use in determining the total content and vertical distribution of atmospheric ozone. Russian Geomagnetism andAeronomy 6 236-242. 

There are also static models to describe the vertical profile of ozone density distribution. One such model is the Kruger formula ... 

Fig. 12. Vertical distribution of ozone (O3) concentration (molecules cm- ) in prebiological paleoatmosphere. Calculations for molecular hydrogen (Hj) = 17 ppmv, carbon dioxide (COj) = 280 ppmv, and three different solar ultraviolet fluxes.

An alternate technique uses the back-scattered solar ultraviolet (BUV) radiation reflected into space and measured outside the atmosphere from an orbiting satellite. The vertical distribution of ozone within this total column can be measured with the ground-based Dobson instrument through the umkehr technique, which depends upon the variation in ultraviolet penetration versus solar zenith angle over a period of several hours. The vertical distribution of ozone can also be determined from the wavelength dependence of the BUV signal. 

Honninger G. and Platt U. (2002) Observations of BrO and its vertical distribution during surface ozone depletion at Alert. Atoms. Environ. 36, 2481—2489. 

Figure 12. Vertical distribution of ozone-air ratio for measurement in Figure 11...

The fundamental innovation of the VODARO technique (vertical ozone distributions from absorption and radiation by ozone) is application of infrared observations to determination of the vertical distribution of ozone. As with most new developments, the initial discovery must be followed by a period of modifications and testing before anything like perfection and wide usage can be expected. This is a summary of one year s data applied to computations of temperature changes in the stratosphere. 

It was pointed out earlier that the natural equilibrium condition for the production and dissociation of ozone resulted in an ozone maximum at some intermediate level in the upper atmosphere. From measurements at different times and by different observers (6, 12, 16, 32, 33, 37, 39, 4I, 4, this maximum has been found to vary in height, thickness, and in general structure, with short and long period fluctuations possibly associated with weather conditions and seasonal variations. On occasion double maxima may appear (41)- Little is yet known, however, about specific relationships between the ozone changes and meteorological conditions except in the instance of seasonal variations (6, 8, 10, 15, 26, 30, 4 ) and certain large air mass movements (9, 56, 59). There is a great need for continuous observations of both the total and the vertical distribution of ozone in order to establish possible relationships between ozone distribution and concentration and solar variation, atmospheric circulation, and weather. 

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