Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Continuous ozone depletion over Antarctica after 2000 and its relationship with the polar vortex

  • Published:
Journal of Meteorological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Observations have shown highly variable ozone depletion over the Antarctic in the 2000s, which could affect the long-term ozone trend in this region as well as the global ozone recovery. By using the total column ozone data (1979–2011), interannual variation of the springtime Antarctic ozone low is investigated, together with its relationship with the polar vortex evolution in the lower stratosphere. The results show that springtime Antarctic ozone depletion has continued in the 2000s, seemingly contradicting the consensus view of a global ozone recovery expected at the beginning of the 21st century. The spring Antarctic polar vortex in the lower stratosphere is much stronger in the 2000s than before, with a larger area, delayed breakup time, and greater longevity during 2000–2011. Further analyses show that the recent continuation of springtime Antarctic ozone depletion could be largely attributed to the abnormal variation of the Antarctic polar vortex.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akiyoshi, H., and L. B. Zhou, 2007: Midlatitude and high-latitude N2O distributions in the Northern Hemisphere in early and late Arctic polar vortex breakup years. J. Geophys. Res., 112, D18305, doi: 10.1029/2007JD008491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austin, J., K. Tourpali, E. Rozanov, et al., 2008: Coupled chemistry climate model simulations of the solar cycle in ozone and temperature. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D11306, doi: 10.1029/2007JD009391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bian, L. G., Z. Lin, X. D. Zheng, et al., 2011: Trend of Antarctic ozone hole and its influencing factors. Adv. Climate Change Res., 7(2), 90–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, —, D. Q. Zhang, et al., 2012: The vertical structure and seasonal changes of atmosphere ozone and temperature at Zhongshan Station over East Antarctica. Sci. China (Earth Sci.), 55(2), 262–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, and X. Lin, 2012: Interdecadal change in the Antarctic circumpolar wave during 1951–2010. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 29(3), 464–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Laat, A. T. J., and M. van Weele, 2011: Observed reduction in ozone destruction by minor sudden stratospheric warmings. Sci. Rep., 1, 38, doi:10.1038/srep00038.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farman, J. C., B. G. Gardiner, and J. D. Shanklin, 1985: Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction. Nature, 315, 207–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fioletov, V. E., G. E. Bodeker, A. J. Miller, et al., 2002: Global and zonal total ozone variations estimated from ground-based and satellite measurements: 1964–2000. J. Geophys. Res., 107(22), 4647.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flemming, J., A. Inness, L. Jones, et al., 2011: Forecasts and assimilation experiments of the Antarctic ozone hole 2008. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 1961–1977, doi: 10.5194/acp-11-1961-2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, V. L., R. Pierce, T. Fairlie, et al., 2002: A climatology of stratospheric polar vortices and anticyclones. J. Geophys. Res., 107(D20), 4442, doi: 10.1029/2001JD001471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitchcock, P., T. G. Shepherd, and C. McLandress, 2009: Past and future conditions for polar stratospheric cloud formation simulated by the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 483–495, doi: 10.5194/acp-9-483-2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huck, P. E., A. J. McDonald, G. E. Bodeker, et al., 2005: Interannual variability in Antarctic ozone depletion controlled by planetary waves and polar temperature. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L13819, doi: 10.1029/2005GL022943.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurwitz, M. M., and P. A. Newman, 2010: 21st century trends in Antarctic temperature and polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) area in the GEOS chemistryclimate model. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D19109, doi: 10.1029/2009JD013397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karpetchko, A., E. Kyrö, and B. M. Knudsen, 2005: Arctic and Antarctic polar vortices 1957–2002 as seen from the ERA-40 reanalyses. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D21109, doi: 10.1029/2005JD006113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, N. P. Gillett, L. J. Gray, et al., 2010: Influence of ozone recovery and greenhouse gas increases on Southern Hemisphere circulation. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D22117, doi: 10.1029/2010JD014423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langematz, U., and M. Kunze, 2006: An update on dynamical changes in the Arctic and Antarctic stratospheric polar vortices. Climate Dyn., 27(6), 647–660, doi: 10.1007/s00382-006-0156-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newchurch, M. J., E.-S. Yang, D. M. Cunnold, et al., 2003: Evidence for slowdown in stratospheric ozone loss: First stage of ozone recovery. J. Geophys. Res., 108(D16), 4507, doi: 10.1029/2003JD003471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, P. A., S. R. Kawa, and E. R. Nash, 2004: On the size of the Antarctic ozone hole. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L21104, doi: 10.1029/2004GL020596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, E. R. Nash, S. R. Kawa, et al., 2006: When will the Antarctic ozone hole recover? Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L12814, doi: 10.1029/2005GL025232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pazmiño, A. F., S. Godin-Beekmann, M. Ginzburg, et al., 2005: Impact of Antarctic polar vortex occurrences on total ozone and UVB radiation at southern Argentinean and Antarctic stations during 1997–2003 period. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D03103, doi: 10.1029/2004JD005304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinsel, G. C., 2002: Trend analysis of upper stratospheric Umkehr ozone data for evidence of turnaround. Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(10), 1451, doi: 10.1029/2002GL014716.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, A. J. Miller, E. C. Weatherhead, et al., 2005: Trend analysis of total ozone data for turnaround and dynamical contributions. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D16306, doi: 10.1029/2004JD004662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoeberl, M. R., L. R. Lait, P. A. Newman, et al., 1992: The structure of the polar vortex. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 7859–7882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waugh, D. W., W. J. Randel, S. Pawson, et al., 1999: Persistence of the lower stratospheric polar vortices. J. Geophys. Res., 104, 27191–27201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, and P. P. Rong, 2002: Interannual variability in the decay of lower stratospheric Arctic vortices. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 80(4), 997–1012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WMO (World Meteorological Organization), 2003: Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2002, Global Ozone Res., Monit. Proj. Rep. Geneva, Switzerland, 498 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 2007: Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2006, Global Ozone Res., Monit. Proj. Rep. Geneva, Switzerland, 572 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 2011: Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2010, Global Ozone Res., Monit. Proj. Rep. Geneva, Switzerland, 517 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, E.-S., D. M. Cunnold, M. J. Newchurch, et al., 2005: Change in ozone trends at southern high latitudes. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L12812, doi: 10.1029/2004GL022296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, —, —, et al., 2008: First stage of Antarctic ozone recovery. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D20308, doi: 10.1029/2007JD009675.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, S. T., M. E. Gelman, A. J. Miller, et al., 2000: An inter-hemisphere comparison of the persistent stratospheric polar vortex. Geophys. Res. Lett., 27, 1123–1126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LAPC & LAOR, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Libo Zhou  (周立波), Yu Zhang  (张 宇) & Shupo Ma  (马舒坡)

Authors
  1. Libo Zhou  (周立波)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yu Zhang  (张 宇)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shupo Ma  (马舒坡)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Libo Zhou  (周立波).

Additional information

Supported by the Public Science and Technology Research Funds for Projects of the Ocean (201005017-5), China Meteorological Administration Special Public Welfare Research Fund (GYHY201206041), Project of Comprehensive Evaluation of Polar Areas on Global and Regional Climate Changes and Polar Environment Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment (2012–2015).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhou, L., Zhang, Y. & Ma, S. Continuous ozone depletion over Antarctica after 2000 and its relationship with the polar vortex. Acta Meteorol Sin 28, 162–171 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-014-0102-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-014-0102-x

Key words

Search

Navigation