Remote sensing of atmospheric ozone at millimeter waves

Abstract

UDC 551.510We present new results of remote sensing of the vertical distribution of ozone at millimeter waves using the FIAN (P. N. Lebedev Institute of Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences) highsensitivity spectroradiometer which includes a new 96-channel spectrum analyzer AS-96 with improved characteristics. The ozone radiation spectrum is recorded at a frequency of 142.2 GHz. Vertical profile of ozone is retrieved using an improved algorithm based on Tikhonov's method and statistical regularization technique. Specific features of the altitude-temporal distribution of ozone, which reflects ozonospheric processes above mid-latitudes are considered. Variations in the vertical distribution of ozone during major stratospheric warming in January 2009 are shown. It was concluded that the creation of a national ground-based network for ozone monitoring at millimeter waves in Russia is a must.

Russian National Report: Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

“…A more accurate algorithm for retrieving vertical profiles was also developed. This algorithm combines the Tikhonov regularization method and the method of statistical regularization [Solomonov et al, 2011]. A multiyear data series on the VOD over Moscow was used to study the influence of circulation systems and processes, such as large-scale vortices, waves, and sudden stratospheric warmings, on the ozone layer.…”

“…A multiyear data series on the VOD over Moscow was used to study the influence of circulation systems and processes, such as large-scale vortices, waves, and sudden stratospheric warmings, on the ozone layer. New methodical approaches to the solution of these problems and obtained results are given in [Solomonov et al, 2011;Solomonov et al, 2012a;Solomonov et al, 2012b;Kropotkina et al, 2013;Solomonov et al, 2014]. During the winter period, planetary waves with the wavenumbers n = 1, 2 dominate in the stratosphere, in latitude 69 o N. At n = 2, the polar vortex was often shifted towards Moscow, and its frequent occurrence in the atmosphere over Moscow made it possible to obtain new data on its intensity and sizes and on the structure of the VOD inside this vortex and at its borders.…”

“…Such warmings, especially the major warmings of 2001 and 2013, strongly affected the VOD, and the character of these VOD variations is described in [Solomonov et al, 2011;. The VOD during the formation and existence of the ozone anomaly of winter-spring 2011 is analyzed in detail in [Solomonov et al, 2012b].…”

Transportable millimeter-wave spectrometer for monitoring of the atmospheric ozone

“…The instrument measures broadened spectral line of the atmospheric ozone thermal emission centered at 142.175 GHz (wavelength of 2.1 mm). Vertical ozone distribution in the stratosphere and mesosphere over point of observations (altitudes 12-75 km, up to 95 km at night) may be retrieved from the spectral line contour using special mathematical methods [4].The ozonometer consists of low-noise receiver, acousto-optical and filter-bank spectrum analyzers and PC with special software. The instrument may be operated in both automatic and manual mode.…”

“…Global depletion of the protective ozone layer in the last decades accompanied with such anomalous events as ozone holes in Antarctic and Arctic [1,2] requires reliable long-term monitoring of ozone and ozone-related minor atmospheric gases from both satellites and ground level. Ground-based millimeter-wave (MMW) monitoring of atmospheric ozone is low-dependent on weather conditions, covers broad altitude region from the lower stratosphere to mesosphere, and is possible in day and night time [3,4]. These features of MMW measurements provide their advantages over traditional optical methods (UV spectrometers and lidars) and ozone sondes.…”