An Examination of the Recent Stability of Ozonesonde Global Network Data

The recent Assessment of Standard Operating Procedures for OzoneSondes (ASOPOS 2.0; WMO/GAW Report #268) addressed questions homogeneity and long-term stability in global electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozone sounding network time series. Among its recommendations was adoption a standard evaluating data quality ozonesonde time-series. Total column (TCO) derived from the sondes compared to TCO Aura’s Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) is primary indicator. Comparisons sonde with Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) are used assess stratospheric ozone. This paper provides comprehensive examination accuracy since 2004 light sudden post-2013 “dropoff” ?3-4% that reported previously at select stations (Stauffer et al., 2020). Aura OMI averaged across 60 stable within about ±2% over past 18 years. Sonde has similar three other satellite instruments, measurements average ±5% MLS 50 10 hPa. Thus, reliable trends, but caveat applied subset dropoff tropics subtropics. associated only one two major ECC instrument types. A detailed serial numbers pinpoints timing dropoff. However, we find overall, accurate independent decades.