HR: 1340h
AN: A23B-0949    [Abstracts]
TI: Nonlinear Relationship Between Total Ozone and the AO
AU: * Peterson, K A
EM: kepeters@ramapo.edu
AF: Ramapo College of New Jersey, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430 United States
AB: An analysis of total ozone concentration as a function of the Arctic Oscillation Index (AO) was performed at all available stations. In particular, we looked for relationships between the two that were non-linear in nature by performing a best fit of the total ozone concentrations to a quadratic function of the AO index. During the winter months (DJFM), a general negative correlation between the two variables was observed at stations between the latitudes of 40N and 70N. This can be explained by either AO's influence on ozone transport and depletion, but more likely by the ozone concentration's influence on stratospheric temperature which in turn can influence the strength of the AO. However, if ozone concentration and the AO are indeed linked in both directions, then this would suggest a possible feedback mechanism which should manifest itself in a non-linear relationship between the two variables. We find such a significant quadratic relationship only in May at stations between 50N and 70N, primarily in Scandinavia and Russia. This may be related to a non-linear feedback relationships between the AO, late polar vortex breakup and (summertime) ozone chemistry.
DE: 1616 Climate variability (1635, 3305, 3309, 4215, 4513)
DE: 1620 Climate dynamics (0429, 3309)
DE: 3334 Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342)
DE: 3362 Stratosphere/troposphere interactions
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005