Home – Home – Jornals – Atmospheric and Oceanic Optics 2014 number 6

Effects of the Pinatubo volcano eruption and variations of solar activity on stratospheric O₃ and NO₂ are estimated, using data of satellite measurements of ozone concentration by SBUV/SBUV-2 instruments and results of ground-based measurements of the column NO₂ content in the NDACC. The NO₂ decrease related to the Pinatubo eruption is within 19-23% at different stations, the NO₂ decrease in the Southern hemisphere (SH) is on the whole something larger than in the Northern hemisphere (NH). The decrease in O₃ concentration in the NH extratropical lower stratosphere (~ 10%) is, on the contrary, much larger than in the SH. Maximal decrease in ozone concentration is noted in the neighbourhood of 10 hPa level (32 km) at 10-15°S. The effect of the 11-year solar cycle in stratospheric ozone is approximately symmetrical about the equator. Altitude maxima of the O₃ response to the solar cycle are noted at altitudes of 50-55, 35-40, and below 25 km. The changes in O₃ concentration in these layers are usually within several percents. Essential interhemispheric difference is noted in the NO₂ response to the 11-year solar cycle. The NO₂ content at most of SH stations is usually lower during the phase of maximum than during the phase of minimum of solar activity. The NO₂ content at the low- and mid-latitude stations of the NH is often larger during a solar activity maximum compared to that during its minimum. NO₂ changes related to the solar cycle are usually within 5%.