Characteristics of Boreal Winter Total Ozone Distribution in the Northern Hemisphere and Their Relationship with Stratospheric Temperature During Recent 30 Years

The characteristics of spatiotemporal distribution of total ozone have a significant impact on the variabilities of climate and environment. As the increase of the high quality and quantity of total ozone datasets, it is necessary to provide a detailed investigation of spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of total ozone and its relationship with climate variability. Based on the ECMWF global monthly mean total ozone and stratopheric temperature data from 1979 to 2013, the spatiotemporal structure of dominant total ozone pattern in the Northern Hemisphere (north of 20°N) during boreal winter is studied using the rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) analysis and Morlet wavelet analysis. Besides, the relationship of the dominant total ozone pattern with the temperature anomalies in the upper (2 hPa), middle (30 hPa) and lower (100 hPa) stratosphere is further studied using composite analysis. The results show that the variability of total ozone in the Northern Hemisphere during boreal winter is characterized by five significant dominant patterns during the recent 30 years, which are located in the Arctic region (75°N–90°N, 0°–360°), the subtropics of Northern Hemisphere (20°N–40°N, 0°–360°), the Alaska region (60°N–75°N, 180°E–260°E), the North Atlantic region (45°N–60°N, 310°E–360°E) and the Siberia region (50°N–65°N, 80°E–130°E). The five dominant patterns show significant variabilities on the interannual and interdecadal time scales. The total ozone over these five regions changes from more than normal to less than normal since the late 1980. On the interannual time scale, total ozone over the five regions shows pronounced periodicity. In addition, their periodicities show significant difference. The relationship between the dominant total ozone patterns and the stratospheric temperature indicates that, when the total ozone is increased (reduced), the upper stratosphere will be cooled (warmed), while the middle and lower stratosphere will be warmed (cooled). Furthermore, the middle stratosphere is warmer (cooler) than the lower stratosphere.