The Antarctic stratospheric nitrogen hole: Southern Hemisphere
and Antarctic springtime total nitrogen dioxide and total ozone
variability as observed by Sentinel-5p TROPOMI
de Laat, A., van Geffen, J., Stammes, P.,
van der A, R., Eskes, H. and Veefkind, P.: 2024,
Atmos. Chem. Phys. 24, 4511-4535.
Abstract
Denitrification within the stratospheric vortex is a crucial process for
Antarctic ozone hole formation, resulting in an analogous stratospheric
"nitrogen hole". Sedimentation of large nitric acid trihydrate polar
stratospheric cloud particles within the Antarctic polar stratospheric
vortex that form during winter depletes the inner vortex of nitrogen oxides.
Here, 2018-2021 daily TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI)
measurements are used for the first time for a detailed characterization of
this nitrogen hole. Nitrogen dioxide total columns exhibit strong
spatiotemporal and seasonal variations associated with photochemistry as
well as transport and mixing processes. Combined with total ozone column
data two main regimes are identified: inner-vortex ozone- and
nitrogen-dioxide-depleted air and outer-vortex air enhanced in ozone and
nitrogen dioxide. Within the vortex total ozone and total stratospheric
nitrogen dioxide are strongly correlated, which is much less evident outside
of the vortex. Connecting the two main regimes is a third regime of coherent
patterns in the total nitrogen dioxide column-total ozone column phase space
- defined here as "mixing lines". These mixing lines exist because of
differences in three-dimensional variations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone,
thereby providing information about vortex dynamics and cross-vortex edge
mixing. On the other hand, interannual variability of nitrogen dioxide-total
ozone characteristics is rather small except in 2019 when the vortex was
unusually unstable. Overall, the results show that daily stratospheric
nitrogen dioxide column satellite measurements provide an innovative means
for characterizing polar stratospheric denitrification processes, vortex
dynamics, and long-term monitoring of Antarctic ozone hole conditions.
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created: 17 April 2024
last modified: 17 April 2024