The Quasi-biennial Oscillation of Ozone in the Tropical Middle Stratosphere: A One-Dimensional Model

Abstract

A one-dimensional model of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of ozone in the tropical middle stratosphere is derived based on assumed (observed) zonal wind QBO in a coupled dynamic, radiative/ photochemical system. It is found that the derived vertical variation of the ozone QBO amplitude has two. maxima, one at 32 km and the other at 22 km, and a minimum at 28 km. These are in qualitative agreement with observations. In the height interval 30–35 km, the ozone QBO is closely related to temperature dependent photochemistry and the ozone and temperature variations are out of phase. Below 28 km, where vertical ozone and thermal transports are important, ozone and temperature oscillations are in phase but both am approximately 270° out of phase with the vertical wind variation.