Is Antarctic climate most sensitive to ozone depletion in the middle or lower stratosphere?

Keeley, S, Gillett, N, Solomon, S, Thompson, D and Forster, PM (2007) Is Antarctic climate most sensitive to ozone depletion in the middle or lower stratosphere? Geophysical Research Letters, 34 (L22821). ISSN 0094-8276

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Abstract

Antarctic stratospheric ozone depletion has been associated with an observed downward trend in tropospheric geopotential height and temperature. Stratospheric ozone depletion peaks in October November, whereas tropospheric trends are largest in December-January, concurrent with maximum ozone changes close to the tropopause. Surface temperatures are most sensitive to ozone loss near the tropopause, therefore it has been suggested that the observed tropospheric response is forced mainly by ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere. In this study the climate response to ozone depletion exclusively below 164 hPa is simulated using HadSM3-L64, and compared with simulations in which ozone depletion is prescribed exclusively above 164 hPa. Results indicate that the tropospheric response is dominated by ozone changes above 164 hPa, with ozone changes in the lowermost stratosphere playing an insignificant role. A tropospheric response is also seen in fall/winter which agrees well with observations and has not been found in modeling studies previously.

Item Type:	Article
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	© 2007 American Geophysical Union. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.
Keywords:	Climate, Ozone, Antarctic
Academic Units:	The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds)
Depositing User:	Symplectic Publications
Date Deposited:	13 Oct 2011 10:29
Last Modified:	08 Feb 2013 17:34
Published Version:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007GL031238
Status:	Published
Publisher:	American Geophysical Union
Identification Number:	10.1029/2007GL031238
URI:	http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/43316

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