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Radiative forcing from modelled and observed stratospheric ozone changes due to the 11-year solar cycle
1University of Oslo, Department of Geosciences, Oslo, Norway
2Center for International Climate and Environmental Research, Oslo, Norway
3Imperial College London, Blackett Laboratory, UK
4University of Reading, Department of Meteorology, UK
5University of Athens, Faculty of Geology & Geoenvironment, Lab. of Atmospheric Physics and Climatology Athens, Greece
6Lab. of Atmospheric Environment, Biomedical Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
7National Observatory of Athens, Greece
8Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Thessaloniki, Greece
9National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Abstract. Three analyses of satellite observations and two sets of model studies are used to estimate changes in the stratospheric ozone distribution from solar minimum to solar maximum and are presented for three different latitudinal bands: Poleward of 30° north, between 30° north and 30° south and poleward of 30° south. In the model studies the solar cycle impact is limited to changes in UV fluxes. There is a general agreement between satellite observation and model studies, particular at middle and high northern latitudes. Ozone increases at solar maximum with peak values around 40 km. The profiles are used to calculate the radiative forcing (RF) from solar minimum to solar maximum. The ozone RF, calculated with two different radiative transfer schemes is found to be negligible (a magnitude of 0.01 Wm−2 or less), compared to the direct RF due to changes in solar irradiance, since contributions from the longwave and shortwave nearly cancel each other. The largest uncertainties in the estimates come from the lower stratosphere, where there is significant disagreement between the different ozone profiles.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 473 KB) Interactive Discussion (Final Response, 2 Comments)
Citation: Isaksen, I. S. A., Rognerud, B., Myhre, G., Haigh, J. D., Rumbold, S. T., Shine, K. P., Zerefos, C., Tourpali, K., and Randel, W.: Radiative forcing from modelled and observed stratospheric ozone changes due to the 11-year solar cycle, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 8, 4353-4371, 2008. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
