Consistency between variations of ozone and temperature in the stratosphere

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We compare time series of monthly mean total ozone values, provided by the Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Radiometer (SBUV), with temperatures derived from the operational stratospheric analyses produced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Climate Prediction Center (NCEP/CPC). Results generally substantiate the expectancy of positive correlations between variations of ozone and temperature in the lower stratosphere, and negative correlations between the two in the upper stratosphere. It is found that the correlations did not behave in the expected manner during the periods immediately after the eruptions of El Chichon (April 1982) and Mt.Pinatubo (June 1991). Possible problems are also pointed out for other time periods, when the anticipated correlations are not indicated. In some of the cases, the evaluations lead to recommendations for continued investigation, in order to determine whether some values might be erroneous and should be removed to improve consistency within the datasets. In a few cases it is found that real variations can be mistakenly identified as errors.