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Atmospheric circulation and the tropospheric ozone maximum over the tropical South Atlantic Ocean

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Summary

Ozone for a ten year period obtained from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) has been compared with velocity potential for the same period. It has been found that the global-scale circulation serves to modulate the ozone concentration over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Examination of the low frequency modes reveal close correspondence between the two parameters, especially at the annual timescale. Descending motion over southern Africa reduces precipitation, thereby enhancing biomass burning and the subsequent release of trace gases and the possible photochemical production of ozone. Transport to the ozone maximum region over the tropical Atlantic Ocean occurs mainly from tropical Africa. Little evidence has been found on a climatological time-scale to support the theory of stratospheric infusion into the troposphere above the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

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  1. P. C. D'Abreton

    Present address: Climatology Research Group, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa

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  1. Department of Meteorology, Florida State University, Florida, U.S.A.

    P. C. D'Abreton

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D'Abreton, P.C. Atmospheric circulation and the tropospheric ozone maximum over the tropical South Atlantic Ocean. Meteorl. Atmos. Phys. 61, 75–87 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029713

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