Surface ozone and artificial ?^- activity in Dresden-Wahnsdorf

Abstract

In the German Democratic Republic ozone and radioactivity network at 5 stations simultaneous measurements of surface ozone are made by the chemical method of Cauer and of artificial activity by filter sampling. The daily maximum values of surface ozone and the daily mean of radioactivity show relations in their seasonal trend. The results of these investigations at Dresden-Wahnsdorf station (51.1° N, 13.7° E) are discussed. In years without nuclear tests (1963 and 1964) there was a statistically significant positive correlation between ozone and radioactivity from March until September. In a year with fresh fission production (1962) there was such a correlation during the time of decreasing activity from June until August. From October until February the correlation in the years 1962 to 1964 was mostly negative, in part statistically insignificant. The relation of ozone and radioactivity data for large-scale weather systems and during periods with and without precipitation was investigated for daily deviations of ozone and radioactivity from their seasonal trend, smoothed by overlapping tenday averages. Deviations which were higher or lower than the single value of the standard deviation as well as averaged values of the deviations are discussed. On days with southerly air flow in the 500 mb region there is an increase of ozone and radioactivity; there is a decrease on days with northerly air flow. The influence of wash out is indicated by an increase during dry weather periods and a decrease during periods with precipitation. From March until September there are similar deviations from the seasonal trend for both ozone and radioactivity. From October until February there is an inverse trend due to the influence of large-scale weather systems with a stable stratification (central high pressure systems). Ozone decreases due to the accumulation of reducing trace constituents in surface air, while radioactivity decreases due to the increased rate of scavening by dust.DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1966.tb00256.x