Eddy meridional ozone transport in Antarctica in August–October 1998 and 2002

Abstract

A strong zonal circulation, with a well‐isolated polar vortex that resulted in one of the largest recorded ozone holes, characterized the austral winter–spring of 1998. In contrast, in 2002 intensive vacillation of the zonal circulation, a disturbed and weakened polar vortex and record high planetary wave activity followed by major stratospheric warming in late September led to splitting of the polar vortex and to the smallest ozone hole observed over the past 20 years or more. Variability of total ozone column in the southern extratropics during August–October 1998 and 2002 and eddy meridional ozone transport induced by planetary waves activity were investigated. Unprecedented high activity of planetary waves caused significantly stronger poleward eddy ozone transport in 2002, with a maximum in the middle stratosphere at the time of major stratospheric warming. The role of poleward ozone transport in the observed shallow ozone hole in 2002 is discussed.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank I. Stajner from NASA's Data Assimilation Office for providing the GEOS ozone data and E. Jadin from the Central Aerological Observatory for useful suggestions. NCEP Reanalysis data were provided by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Diagnostics Center, Boulder, Colorado, USA.