Total ozone variation between 50° and 60°N

Abstract

The merged TOMS/SBUV ozone data for 1979–2002 are used to analyze, with a linear regression model and the other approaches, the zonal distribution of ozone variations between 50° and 60°N, the seasonal cycle and trends, and the responses to the solar cycle, quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO), El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Arctic Oscillation (AO). The seasonal ozone cycle shows ozone high over the north Pacific and low over the north Atlantic in winter, with a variability of 180 DU between 50° and 60°N. The maximum ozone trend obtained is over −5.3 ± 0.8%/decade at around 95°E in March. The anti‐phase ozone response to the equatorial QBO is about 8 DU, with a 28‐month period, in zonal average. In addition, the ozone responses to ENSO and AO are detected as 5 and 8 DU, respectively, between 95° and 190°E. The zonal inhomogeneity of ozone variations between 50° and 60°N is also discussed in this study.