Effect of stratosphere-troposphere exchange on the future tropospheric ozone trend

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of circulation changes in a changed climate on the exchange of ozone between the stratosphere and the troposphere. We have identified an increase in the net transport of ozone into the troposphere in the future climate of 37%, although a decreased ozone lifetime means that the overall tropospheric burden decreases. There are regions in the midlatitudes to high latitudes where surface ozone is predicted to increase in the spring. However, these increases are not significant. Significant ozone increases are predicted in regions of the upper troposphere. The general increase in the stratospheric contribution (03s tracer) to tropospheric ozone in the climate changed scenario indicates that the stratosphere will play an even more significant role in the future.