Ozone and temperature decadal responses to solar variability in the stratosphere and lower mesosphere, based on measurements from SABER on TIMED
We have derived ozone and temperature responses to solar variability over a solar cycle, from 2002 to 2014 at 20–60 km and 48° S–48° N, based on data from the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument on the Thermosphere–Ionosphere–Mesosphere Energetics an...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/34/801/2016/angeo-34-801-2016.pdf |
| Summary: | We have derived ozone and temperature responses to solar variability over a
solar cycle, from 2002 to 2014 at 20–60 km and 48° S–48° N, based on
data from the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission
Radiometry (SABER) instrument on the Thermosphere–Ionosphere–Mesosphere
Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite. Simultaneous results
for ozone and temperature with this kind of spatial coverage have not been
previously available, and they provide the opportunity to study correlations
between ozone and temperature responses. In previous studies, there has not
been general agreement on the details or, at times, even the broad behavior
of the responses to decadal solar variability. New results from a different
dataset should supply new information on this important and interesting
subject. A multiple regression is applied to obtain responses as a function
of the solar 10.7 cm flux. Positive responses mean that they are larger at
solar maximum than at solar minimum of the solar cycle. Both ozone and
temperature responses are found be positive or negative, depending on
location.
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Generally, from ∼ 25 to 60 km, the ozone and temperature responses are
mostly out of phase (negatively correlated) with each other as a function of
solar variability, with some exceptions in the lower altitudes. These
negative correlations are maintained even though the individual ozone
(temperature) responses can change signs as a function of altitude and
latitude, because the corresponding temperature (ozone) responses change
signs in step with each other. From ∼ 50 to 60 km, ozone responses are
relatively small, varying from ∼ −1 to ∼ 2 % 100 sfu<sup>−1</sup> (solar flux units), while temperature responses can approach ∼ 2 °K 100 sfu<sup>−1</sup>.
<br><br>
From ∼ 25 to ∼ 40 km, the ozone responses have become mostly
positive at all latitudes and approach a maximum of
∼ 5 % 100 sfu<sup>−1</sup> near the Equator and ∼ 30–35 km. In
contrast, at low latitudes, the temperature responses have become negative
but also reach a local maximum (near 32 km) in magnitude. The ozone and
temperature responses remain mostly out of phase, with isolated exceptions at
midlatitudes between ∼ 25 and 45 km. The general negative
correlations are consistent with the idea that photochemistry is more in
control in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere.
<br><br>
The correlation coefficients between the solar 10.7 cm flux and the ozone
and temperature themselves from 2002 to 2014 are positive (negative) in
regions where the responses are positive (negative). This supports our
results since the correlations are independent of the multiple regression
used to derive the responses. We also compare with previous results. |
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| ISSN: | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |