Articles | Volume 33, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-267-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-267-2015
Regular paper
 | 
04 Mar 2015
Regular paper |  | 04 Mar 2015

Long-term response of stratospheric ozone and temperature to solar variability

I. Bordi, F. Berrilli, and E. Pietropaolo

Abstract. The long-term variability in stratospheric ozone mass mixing ratio (O3) and temperature (T) from 1979 to 2013 is investigated using the latest reanalysis product delivered by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), i.e., ERA-Interim. Moreover, using the Mg II index time series for the same time period, the response of the stratosphere to the 11-year Schwabe solar cycle is investigated. Results reveal the following features: (i) upward (downward) trends characterize zonally averaged O3 anomalies in the upper (middle to lower stratosphere) stratosphere, while prevailing downward trends affect the T field. Mg II index data exhibit a weaker 24th solar cycle (though not complete) when compared with the previous two; (ii) correlations between O3 and Mg II, T and Mg II, and O3 and T are consistent with photochemical reactions occurring in the stratosphere and large-scale transport; and (iii) wavelet cross-spectra between O3 and Mg II index show common power for the 11-year period, particularly in tropical regions around 30–50 hPa, and different relative phase in the upper and lower stratosphere. A comprehensive insight into the actual processes accounting for the observed correlation between ozone and solar UV variability would be gained from an improved bias correction of ozone measurements provided by different satellite instruments, and from the observations of the time behavior of the solar spectral irradiance.

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Short summary
The paper investigates the long-term variability in stratospheric ozone (O3) and temperature (T) from 1979 to 2013, and its relationship with the 11-year solar cycle. It is found that O3 and T anomalies are characterized by long-term trends; (ii) correlations are consistent with photochemical reactions and large-scale transports; and (iii) wavelet cross-spectra between O3 and Mg II index show common power during the 11-year period, proving the impact of the solar variability on the atmosphere.