Large decadal scale changes of polar ozone suggest solar influence

B.-M. Sinnhuber (1) , P. von Der Gathen (2) , M. Sinnhuber (1) , M. Rex (2) , G. König-Langlo (2) , S. J. Oltmans (3)

1 IUP - Institute of Environmental Physics [Bremen]
2 AWI - Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung = Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research = Institut Alfred-Wegener pour la recherche polaire et marine
3 CMDL - NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory

Long-term measurements of polar ozone show an unexpectedly large decadal scale variability in the mid-stratosphere during winter. Negative ozone anomalies are strongly correlated with the flux of energetic electrons in the radiation belt, which is modulated by the 11-year solar cycle. The magnitude of the observed decadal ozone changes (?20%) is much larger than any previously reported solar cycle effect in the atmosphere up to this altitude. The early-winter ozone anomalies subsequently propagate downward into the lower stratosphere and may even influence total ozone and meteorological conditions during spring. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized mechanism by which solar variability impacts on climate through changes in polar ozone.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère

B.-M. Sinnhuber, P. von Der Gathen, M. Sinnhuber, M. Rex, G. König-Langlo, et al.. Large decadal scale changes of polar ozone suggest solar influence. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2006, 6 (7), pp.1835-1841. ⟨hal-00295927⟩