Open AccessA model perspective on total tropospheric O 3 column variability and implications for satellite observations
Author(s) -
de Laat A. T. J.,
Aben I.,
Roelofs G. J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2004jd005264
Subject(s) - troposphere , extratropical cyclone , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , stratosphere , climatology , tropopause , satellite , geology , physics , astronomy
In recent years several methods have been developed that derive total tropospheric O 3 columns from satellite measurements. However, one issue that has not been paid much attention to is the interpretation of (extratropical) total tropospheric O 3 columns. Different processes contribute to the total tropospheric O 3 column: stratosphere‐troposphere exchange, tropospheric O 3 production and loss, transport and the height of the tropopause. Each process contributes differently to the total tropospheric O 3 column variability depending on season, geographical location, and altitude. This paper investigates the contribution of these different processes on total tropospheric O 3 column variability using a chemistry‐climate model simulation of tropospheric O 3 , and reflects on the implications for total tropospheric O 3 column measurements. On the basis of tropospheric O 3 column (satellite) measurements and without other sources of information (e.g., model simulations, observations of other trace species) it is not possible to determine the separate contributions by the aforementioned processes to the extratropical total tropospheric O 3 column variability. Furthermore, typical extratropical synoptic‐scale (daily) total tropospheric O 3 column variability is of the order of 10 DU (1‐σ value), implying the errors in (satellite) measurements should be of the order of magnitude at maximum (∼10 DU) for daily measurements. For tropical total tropospheric O 3 column (satellite) measurements the requirements are less stringent because the most important variability occurs on seasonal timescales. Errors in tropical total tropospheric O 3 column (TTOC) measurements should be of the order of 5 DU for monthly means.