Vertical distribution of tropospheric ozone in Antarctica and in the European Arctic

Abstract

In midwinter, differences between the monthly means in the northern and southern hemispheres are small, i.e. <1 mPa. Exceptionally high and low partial pressures at Sodankyla and Marambio have been studied using 3-dimensional trajectories based on the ECMWF analyses. Episodes of upper tropospheric ozone loss at Marambio have been observed during the stratospheric ozone depletion period in spring. The only cause for especially high tropospheric ozone concentrations in Antarctica has been stratospheric intrusions. Low partial pressures in the boundary layer have been connected with advection of marine airmasses to Marambio. At Sodankyla, low boundary layer values have been observed during an advection from the Northern sea areas and also during the transport of airmasses from industrial source areas of Eastern Europe. -from Authors