Total ozone variability and change at southern mid-latitudes

FABIO E. MALANCA; GUSTAVO A. ARGÜELLO; PABLO O. CANZIANI

CENTRO ARGENTINO DE METEORÓLOGOS

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2003 vol. 28 p. 53 - 53

p align="LEFT">The variability of atmospheric mid-latitude ozone over the Southern Hemisphere is analyzed. The total ozone column distribution is discussed on the basis of TOMS data, binned at latitudes between 60º and 30º S. A strong longitudinal and latitudinal dependence of the seasonal and interannual variation of the ozone column was observed. The most severe depletions at mid-latitudes are located in the region between 80º W and 60º E, mainly over the South Atlantic. A change in the trends between the 80´s and 90´s is observed, such a change takes place prior to the maximum of stratospheric chlorine, which took place around 1997. The monthly trends show significant changes when data for the period 1979-2000 is compared with a similar analysis for the 80´s only. During the years sampled an eastward displacements of negative trends, between 30º and 60º in longitude can be observed in September and October. The location o