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Stratospheric Polar Processes and Ozone
Contact: Michelle Santee



Summary

One of the overarching goals of the Aura mission is to track the stability of the stratospheric ozone layer. At issue is whether global stratospheric ozone will recover as anticipated as the abundances of ozone-depleting substances decline in response to international regulations. The primary agent responsible for the formation of the ozone hole that forms over Antarctica every austral spring is anthropogenic chlorine. Stratospheric chlorine loading is presently near its peak but waning; assuming compliance with existing protocols, it should return to pre-1980 levels by about 2050. Although detection and attribution of small changes in chlorine-catalyzed ozone loss are challenging problems, some abatement of lower stratospheric polar ozone depletion may become apparent during the Aura timeframe. There are, however, important linkages between climate change and ozone depletion that could delay recovery of the ozone layer. Changes in stratospheric temperature, humidity, and circulation patterns brought about by climate change could exacerbate polar ozone destruction processes. These issues are of particular concern in the Arctic, where wintertime temperatures often hover near the thresholds at which the processes leading to severe chlorine-catalyzed ozone destruction are triggered.

Aura MLS measures vertical profiles of many of the key species involved in polar processing and ozone loss in the lower stratosphere. In addition to temperature and ozone itself, MLS is providing the first simultaneous, collocated daily global measurements of both ClO, the primary form of reactive (ozone-destroying) chlorine in the stratosphere, and HCl, the main stratospheric chlorine reservoir (relatively inactive) species. MLS also measures two other minor chlorine species, HOCl and (in version 3) CH3Cl (the only significant natural source of organic chlorine). In addition, MLS measures H2O and HNO3, the main components of the polar stratospheric clouds that form in the very low temperatures in the winter polar regions in both hemispheres; these cloud particles provide surfaces on which the heterogeneous chemical reactions that convert reservoir chlorine to reactive forms can take place, thus priming the atmosphere for severe ozone destruction. N2O and CO are "tracers" of stratospheric air motions; MLS measurements of these species provide critical information needed to disentangle the effects of transport and mixing from those of chemical loss on the observed ozone distributions. Other MLS measurements that are arguably relevant for lower stratospheric polar processes and ozone loss include volcanic SO2 (for helping diagnose the influence of major volcanic eruptions on the ozone layer), and HCN, CH3CN, and cloud ice water content in the upper troposphere (for helping assess the impact of pollutants and other species lofted from below that may affect ozone chemistry in the stratosphere).



MLS-related publications concerning polar stratospheric ozone

2011

  1. Alexander, S.P., "The effect of orographic gravity waves on Antarctic polar stratospheric cloud occurrence and composition", vol doi:10.1029/2010JD015184, num 116, 2011. Reprint Preprint
  2. de Laat, A.T.J., "The 2010 Antarctic ozone hole: Observed reduction in ozone destruction by minor sudden stratospheric warmings", vol 10.1038/srep00038, num 1, pgs. 38, 2011. Preprint
  3. De Wachter, E., "Signatures of the Sudden Stratospheric Warming events of January-February 2008 in Seoul, S. Korea", vol 10.1016/j.asr.2011.08.002, num 48, 2011. Preprint
  4. Feng, W., "Modelling the effect of denitrification on polar ozone depletion for Arctic winter 2004/2005", num 11, 2011. Preprint
  5. Fiorucci, I., "Revising the retrieval technique of a long-term stratospheric HNO3 data set: from a constrained matrix inversion to the optimal estimation algorithm", vol doi:10.5194/angeo-29-1317-2011, num 29, 2011. Preprint
  6. Hu, X-M., "Contribution of mixed-phase boundary layer clouds to the termination of ozone depletion events in the Arctic", vol doi:10.1029/2011GL049229, num 38, 2011. Reprint Preprint
  7. Khosrawi, F., "Denitrification and polar stratospheric cloud formation during the Arctic winter 2009/2010", num 11, 2011. Preprint
  8. Manney, G.L., "Unprecedented Arctic ozone loss in 2011", vol doi:10.1038/nature10556, num 478, 2011. Preprint
  9. Santee, M.L., "Trace gas evolution in the lowermost stratosphere from Aura Microwave Limb Sounder measurements", vol 10.1029/2011JD015590, num 116, 2011. Preprint
  10. Sovde, O.A., "Estimation of Arctic O3 loss during winter 2006/2007 using data assimilation and comparison with a chemical transport model", vol doi:10.1002/qj.740, 2011. Reprint Preprint
  11. Thieblemont, R., "Frozen‐in anticyclones occurring in polar Northern Hemisphere during springtime: Characterization, occurrence and link with quasi‐biennial oscillation", vol 10.1029/2011JD016042, num 116, 2011. Preprint

2010

  1. Kuttippurath, J., "Spatial, temporal, and vertical variability of polar stratospheric ozone loss in the Arctic winters 2004/2005-2009/2010", vol doi:10.5194/acp-10-9915-2010, num 10, 2010. Reprint Preprint
  2. Minschwaner, K., "The photochemistry of carbon monoxide in the stratosphere and mesosphere evaluated from observations by the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Aura satellite", vol doi:10.1029/2009JD012654, num 115, 2010. Reprint Preprint
  3. Santee, M.L., "Constraining the chlorine monoxide (ClO) / chlorine peroxide (ClOOCl) equilibrium constant from Aura Microwave Limb Sounder measurements of nighttime ClO", vol doi:10.1073/pnas.0912659107, num 107, pgs. 15, 2010. Reprint Preprint

2009

  1. Flury, T., "Ozone depletion, water vapor increase, and PSC generation at midlatitudes by the 2008 major stratospheric warming", vol doi:10.1029/2009JD011940, num 114, 2009. Preprint
  2. Jumelet, J., "Microphysical modeling of a midlatitude “polar stratospheric cloud” event: Comparisons against multiwavelength ground-based and spaceborne lidar data", vol doi:10.1029/2009JD011776, num 114, 2009. Preprint
  3. Kuttippurath, J., "Ozone depletion in the Arctic winter 2007-2008", vol doi:10.1080/01431160902821965, num 30, pgs. 15-16, 2009. Reprint Preprint
  4. Manney, G.L., "Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Observations of Dynamics and Transport During the Record-breaking 2009 Arctic Stratospheric Major Warming", vol doi:10.1029/2009GL038586, num 36, 2009. Reprint Preprint
  5. Manney, G.L., "Satellite Observations and Modelling of Transport in the Upper Troposphere through the Lower Mesosphere During the 2006 Major Stratospheric Sudden Warming", num 9, 2009. Reprint Preprint
  6. Morris, R.J., "Low latitude 2-day planetary wave impact on austral polar mesopause temperatures: revealed by a January diminution in PMSE above Davis, Antarctica", vol doi:10.1029/2009GL037817, num 36, 2009. Reprint Preprint
  7. Pitts, M.C., "CALIPSO polar stratospheric cloud observations: second-generation detection algorithm and composition discrimination", num 9, 2009. Reprint Preprint

2008

  1. El Amraoui, L., "Investigation of dynamical processes in the polar stratospheric vortex during the unusually cold winter 2004/2005", vol doi:10.1029/2007GL031251, num 35, 2008. Preprint
  2. Froidevaux, L., "Validation of Aura Microwave Limb Sounder stratospheric ozone measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008771, num 113, 2008. Reprint Preprint
  3. Harvey, V.L., "Low-ozone pockets observed by EOS-MLS", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD009181, num 113, 2008. Reprint Preprint
  4. Jackson, D.R., "Estimation of Arctic ozone loss in winter 2004/05 based on assimilation of EOS MLS observations", vol doi:10.1002/qj.316, num 134, 2008. Reprint Preprint
  5. Manney, G.L., "The High Arctic in Extreme Winters: Vortex, Temperature, and MLS and ACE-FTS Trace Gas Evolution", num 8, 2008. Reprint Preprint
  6. McConnell, J.C., "Stratospheric Ozone Chemistry", vol doi:10.3137/ao.460104, num 46, pgs. No. 1, 2008. Reprint Preprint
  7. Roesevall, J.D., "A study of ozone depletion in the 2004/2005 Arctic winter based on data from Odin/SMR and Aura/MLS", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD009560, num 113, 2008. Preprint
  8. Santee, M.L., "A study of stratospheric chlorine partitioning based on new", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD009057, num 113, 2008. Reprint Preprint
  9. Santee, M.L., "Validation of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder ClO Measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008762, num 113, 2008. Reprint Preprint
  10. Schwartz, M.J., "Validation of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Temperature and Geopotential Height Measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008783, num 113, 2008. Reprint Preprint

2007

  1. Grooss, J-U., "Simulation of ozone loss in Arctic winter 2004/2005", vol doi:10.1029/2006GL028901, num 34, 2007. Reprint Preprint
  2. Jiang, Y.B., "Validation of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Ozone by Ozonesonde and Lidar Measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008776, num 112, 2007. Reprint Preprint
  3. Lambert, A., "Validation of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder middle atmosphere water vapor and nitrous oxide measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008724, num 112, 2007. Preprint
  4. Manney, G.L., "Solar Occultation Satellite Data and Derived Meteorological Products: Sampling Issues and Comparisons with Aura MLS", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008709, num 112, 2007. Reprint Preprint
  5. Mercer, J.L., "Comparison of measured and modeled ozone above McMurdo Station, Antarctica, 1989-2003, during Austral winter/spring", vol doi:10.1029/2006JD007982, num 112, 2007. Reprint Preprint
  6. Pitts, M.C., "Characterization of Polar Stratospheric Clouds with spaceborne lidar: CALIPSO and the 2006 Antarctic season", num 7, 2007. Reprint Preprint
  7. Santee, M.L., "Validation of Aura Microwave Limb Sounder HNO3 Measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008721, num 112, 2007. Reprint Preprint
  8. Singleton, C.S., "Quantifying Arctic ozone loss during the 2004-2005 winter using satellite observations and a chemical transport model", vol doi:10.1029/2006JD007463, num 112, 2007. Reprint Preprint

2006

  1. Dufour, G., "Partitioning between the inorganic chlorine reservoirs HCl and ClONO2 during the Arctic winter 2005 derived from the ACE-FTS measurements", num 6, 2006. Reprint Preprint
  2. Irie, H., "Validation of stratospheric nitric acid concentration profiles observed by Improved Limb Atmospheric Sectrometer (ILAS)-II", vol doi:10.1029/2005JD006115, num 111, 2006. Reprint Preprint
  3. Jimenez, C.J., "EOS MLS observations of dehydration in the 2004-2005 polar winters", vol doi:10.1029/2006GL025926, num 33, 2006. Reprint Preprint
  4. Jin, J.J., "Denitrification in the Arctic winter 2004/2005: Observations from ACE-FTS", vol doi:10.1029/2006GL027687, num 33, 2006. Reprint Preprint
  5. Jin, J.J., "Severe Arctic Ozone Loss in the Winter 2004/2005: Observations from ACE-FTS", vol doi:10.1029/2006GL026752, num 33, 2006. Reprint Preprint
  6. Leblanc, T., "Simultaneous lidar and MLS measurements, and modeling, of a rare polar ozone filament event over Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii", vol doi:10.1029/2006GL026257, num 33, 2006. Reprint Preprint
  7. Manney, G.L., "EOS MLS observations of ozone loss in the 2004-2005 Arctic winter", vol doi:10.1029/2005GL024494, num 33, 2006. Reprint Preprint
  8. Schoeberl, M.R., "Chemical Observations of a Polar Vortex Intrusion", vol doi:10.1029/2006JD007134, num 111, 2006. Reprint Preprint

2005

  1. Davies, S., "3D microphysical model studies of Arctic denitrification: Comparison with observation", num 5, 2005. Preprint
  2. Hoppel, K., "A measurement/model comparison of ozone photochemical loss in the Antarctic ozone hole using POAM observations and the Match technique", vol doi:10.1029/2004JD005651, num 110, 2005. Preprint
  3. Manney, G.L., "EOS Microwave Limb Sounder Observations of the Antarctic Polar Vortex Breakup in 2004", vol doi:10.1029/2005GL022823, num 32, 2005. Preprint
  4. Nassar, R., "ACE-FTS measurements across the edge of the winter 2004 Arctic vortex", vol doi:10.1029/2005GL022671, num 32, 2005. Preprint
  5. Orsolini, Y.J., "An observational study of the final breakdown of the southern hemisphere stratospheric vortex in 2002", num 62, 2005. Preprint
  6. Randall, C.E., "Reconstruction and simulation of stratospheric ozone distributions in the 2002 Austral winter", num 62, 2005. Preprint
  7. Singleton, C.S., "2002-2003 Arctic Loss Deduced from POAM III Satellite Observations and SLIMCAT Chemical Transport Model", vol SRef-ID: 1680-7342/acp/2005-5-597, num 5, 2005. Reprint Preprint

2004

  1. Santee, M.L., "Three-dimensional structure and evolution of stratospheric HNO3 based on UARS Microwave Limb Sounder measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2004JD004578, num 109, 2004. Preprint

2003

  1. Allen, D.R., "Unusual Stratospheric Transport and Mixing during the 2002 Antarctic Winter", vol doi:10.1029/2003GL017117, num 30, 2003. Reprint Preprint
  2. Manney, G.L., "Lower stratospheric temperature differences between meteorological analyses in two cold Arctic winters and their impact on polar processing studies", vol doi:10.1029/2001JD001149, num 108, pgs. D5, 2003. Preprint
  3. Manney, G.L., "Variability of ozone loss during Arctic winter (1991 to 2000) estimated from UARS Microwave Limb Sounder measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2002JD002634, num 108, pgs. D4, 2003. Preprint
  4. Mueller, R., "Chlorine activation and chemical loss deduced from HALOE and balloon measurements in the Arctic during the winter of 1999-2000", vol doi:10.1029/2001JD001423, num 108, pgs. D5, 2003. Reprint Preprint
  5. Rex, M., "On the unexplained stratospheric ozone losses during cold Arctic Januaries", vol doi:10.1029/2002GL016008, num 30, 2003. Reprint Preprint
  6. Santee, M.L., "Variations and climatology of ClO in the polar lower stratosphere from UARS MLS measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2002JD003335, num 108, pgs. D15, 2003. Preprint

2002

  1. Danilin, M.Y., "Comparison of ER-2 aircraft and POAM-III, MLS, and SAGE II satellite measurements during SOLVE using traditional correlative analysis and trajectory hunting techniques", vol doi:10.1029/2002JD000781, num 107, pgs. D5, 2002. Reprint Preprint
  2. Danilin, M.Y., "Trajectory hunting as an effective technique to validate multiplatform measurements: Analysis of the MLS, HALOE, SAGE-II, ILAS, and POAM-II data in October-November 1996", vol doi:10.1029/2001JD002012, num 107, pgs. D20, 2002. Preprint
  3. Harris, N R.P., "Comparison of empirically derived ozone loss rates in the Arctic vortex", vol doi:10.1029/2001JD000482, num 107, pgs. D20, 2002. Preprint
  4. Muscari, G., "Intercomparison of stratospheric HNO3 over Antarctica: Ground-based Millimeter-wave versus UARS/MLS Version 5 retrievals", vol doi:10.1029/2002JD002546, num 107, pgs. D24, 2002. Preprint
  5. Santee, M.L., "A Lagrangian approach to studying Arctic polar stratospheric clouds using UARS MLS HNO3 and POAM II aerosol extinction measurements", vol doi:10.1029/2000JD000227, num 107, pgs. D10, 2002. Preprint

2001

  1. Lee, A.M., "The impact of the mixing properties within the Antarctic stratospheric vortex on ozone loss in spring", num 106, pgs. D3, 2001. Preprint
  2. Orsolini, Y.J., "Lagrangian reconstruction of ozone column and profile at the Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research (ALOMAR) throughout the winter and spring of 1997-98", num 106, pgs. D9, 2001. Reprint Preprint
  3. Stone, E.M., "The onset, extent and duration of dehydration in the Southern Hemisphere polar vortex", num 106, pgs. D19, 2001. Reprint Preprint
  4. Wu, J., "Comparisons between measurements and models of Antarctic ozone loss", num 106, pgs. D3, 2001. Preprint

2000

  1. Danilin, M.Y., "Trajectory hunting: A case study of rapid chlorine activation in December 1992 as seen by UARS", num 105, pgs. D3, 2000. Preprint
  2. Manney, G.L., "Lamination and polar vortex development in fall from ATMOS long-lived trace gases observed during November 1994", num 105, pgs. D23, 2000. Reprint Preprint
  3. Massie, S.T., "Chlorine activation during the 1995-1996 Arctic winter", num 105, pgs. D6, 2000. Preprint
  4. Santee, M.L., "UARS Microwave Limb Sounder Observations of Denitrification and Ozone Loss in the 2000 Arctic Late Winter", num 27, 2000. Preprint
  5. Tabazadeh, A., "Quantifying Denitrification and Its Effect on Ozone Recovery", num 288, 2000. Preprint
  6. van den Broek, M W.P., "Model study of stratospheric chlorine activation and ozone loss during 1996/1997 winter", num 105, pgs. D23, 2000. Reprint Preprint

1999

  1. Dessler, A.E., "Satellite observations of temporary and irreversible denitrification", num 104, pgs. D11, 1999. Preprint
  2. Manney, G.L., "Polar vortex dynamics during spring and fall diagnosed using trace gas observations from the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectrocscopy instrument", num 104, pgs. D15, 1999. Reprint Preprint
  3. Santee, M.L., "Six years of UARS Microwave Limb Sounder HNO3 observations: Seasonal, interhemispheric, and interannual variations in the lower stratosphere", num 104, pgs. D7, 1999. Preprint
  4. Solomon, S., "Stratospheric ozone depletion: A review of concepts and history", num 37, 1999. Preprint
  5. Stachnik, R.A., "Measurements of chlorine partitioning in the winter Arctic stratosphere", num 26, 1999. Preprint

1998

  1. Brinksma, E.J., "Analysis of Record-Low Ozone Values During the 1997 Winter over Lauder, New Zealand", num 25, 1998. Preprint
  2. Dessler, A.E., "Selected science highlights from the first 5 years of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) program", num 36, 1998. Reprint Preprint
  3. Ricaud, P., "Stratosphere over Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica, in winter 1992", num 103, pgs. D11, 1998. Preprint
  4. Santee, M.L., "UARS MLS HNO3 observations: Implications for Antarctic PSCs", num 103, pgs. D11, 1998. Preprint
  5. Searle, K.R., "The impact of spatial averaging on calculated polar ozone loss: 1. Model experiments", num 103, pgs. D19, 1998. Reprint Preprint

1997

  1. Lutman, E.R., "Three dimensional studies of the 1991/92 Northern Hemisphere winter using domain-filling trajectories with chemistry", num 102, pgs. D1, 1997. Preprint
  2. Manney, G.L., "MLS observations of Arctic ozone loss in 1996-97", num 24, 1997. Preprint
  3. Massie, S.T., "Simultaneous observations of Polar Stratospheric Clouds and HNO3 over Scandinavia in January, 1992", num 24, 1997. Preprint
  4. Santee, M.L., "MLS observations of ClO and HNO3 in the 1996-97 Arctic polar vortex", num 24, 1997. Preprint
  5. Yudin, V.A., "A UARS study of lower stratospheric polar processing in the early stages of northern and southern winters", num 102, pgs. D15, 1997. Preprint

1996

  1. Chipperfield, M.P., "Analyses of UARS data in the southern polar vortex in September 1992 using a chemical transport model", num 101, pgs. D13, 1996. Reprint Preprint
  2. Lahoz, W.A., "Vortex dynamics and the evolution of water vapour in the stratosphere of the southern hemisphere", num 122, 1996.
  3. MacKenzie, I., "Chemical loss of polar vortex ozone inferred from UARS MLS measurements of ClO during the Arctic and Antarctic springs of 1993", num 101, pgs. D9, 1996. Preprint
  4. Manney, G.L., "Arctic ozone depletion observed by UARS MLS during the 1994-95 winter", num 23, 1996. Preprint
  5. Manney, G.L., "Polar vortex conditions during the 1995-96 Arctic winter: Meteorology and MLS ozone", num 23, 1996. Preprint
  6. Massie, S.T., "Validation studies using multiwavelength Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES) observations of stratospheric aerosol", num 101, pgs. D6, 1996. Preprint
  7. Santee, M.L., "Chlorine deactivation in the lower stratospheric polar regions during late winter: Results from UARS", num 101, pgs. D13, 1996. Preprint
  8. Santee, M.L., "Polar vortex conditions during the 1995-96 Arctic winter: MLS ClO and HNO3", num 23, 1996. Preprint
  9. Schoeberl, M.R., "The development of the Antarctic ozone hole", num 101, pgs. D15, 1996. Preprint

1995

  1. Douglass, A.R., "Interhemispheric differences in springtime production of HCl and ClONO2 in the polar vortices", num 100, pgs. D7, 1995. Preprint
  2. Fahey, D.W., "Polar Ozone", num 1994, pgs. ch.4, 1995.
  3. Geller, M.A., "UARS PSC, ClONO2, HCl, and ClO measurements in early winter: Additional verification of the paradigm for chlorine activation", num 22, 1995. Preprint
  4. Manney, G.L., "Evidence for arctic ozone depletion in late February and early March 1994", num 22, 1995. Preprint
  5. Manney, G.L., "Evolution of microwave limb sounder ozone and the polar vortex during winter", num 100, pgs. D2, 1995. Preprint
  6. Pyle, J.A., "Early modelling results from the SESAME and ASHOE campaigns", num 100, 1995.
  7. Ricaud, P.D., "Polar stratospheric clouds as deduced from MLS and CLAES measurements", num 22, 1995. Preprint
  8. Santee, M.L., "Interhemispheric differences in polar stratospheric HNO3, H2O, ClO and O3", num 267, 1995. Preprint
  9. Waters, J.W., "UARS MLS observations of lower stratospheric ClO in the 1992-93 and 1993-94 arctic winter vortices", num 22, 1995. Preprint

1994

  1. Bell, W., "Column measurements of stratospheric trace species over Are, Sweden in the winter of 1991-1992", num 21, 1994. Preprint
  2. Lefevre, F., "Chemistry of the 1991-1992 stratospheric winter: Three-dimensional model simulations", num 99, pgs. D4, 1994. Preprint
  3. Manney, G.L., "Chemical depletion of ozone in the Arctic lower stratosphere during winter 1992-93", num 370, 1994. Preprint
  4. Massie, S., "Spectral signatures of polar stratospheric clouds and sulfate aerosol", num 51, 1994. Preprint

1993

  1. Chipperfield, M., "Satellite maps ozone destroyer", num 362, 1993. Preprint
  2. Douglass, A., "A 3D simulation of the early winter distribution of reactive chlorine in the north polar vortex", num 20, 1993. Reprint Preprint
  3. Geller, M.A., "3-D transport-chemistry studies of the stratosphere using satellite data together with data assimilation", 1993.
  4. Lahoz, W.A., "Northern hemisphere mid-stratosphere vortex processes diagnosed from H2O, N2O and potential vorticity", num 23, 1993. Reprint Preprint
  5. Manney, G.L., "The evolution of ozone observed by UARS MLS in the 1992 late winter southern polar vortex", num 20, 1993. Reprint Preprint
  6. Schoeberl, M.R., "MLS ClO observations and arctic polar vortex temperatures", num 20, 1993. Reprint Preprint
  7. Waters, J.W., "Lower stratospheric ClO and O3 in the 1992 southern hemisphere winter", num 20, 1993. Reprint Preprint
  8. Waters, J.W., "Stratospheric ClO and ozone from the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite", num 362, 1993. Preprint


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