Variations of Arctic winter ozone from the LIMS Level 3 dataset

Abstract. The Nimbus 7 Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) instrument operated from 25 October 1978 through 28 May 1979. Its Version 6 (V6) profiles and their Level 3 or zonal Fourier coefficient products have been characterized archived in 2008 2011, respectively. This paper focuses on value use daily ozone maps 3, based a gridding its coefficients. We present V6 pressure surfaces compare them with several rocket-borne chemiluminescent measurements that extend into lower mesosphere. illustrate how synoptic temperature are an important aid interpreting satellite limb-infrared emission versus local measurements, especially when they occur during dynamically active periods Northern Hemisphere winter. A map sequence spanning minor stratospheric warmings late January early February characterizes evolution low-ozone pocket (LOP) at time. also time series wintertime tertiary maximum associated zonally varying temperatures upper These examples provide guidance to researchers for further exploratory analyses middle atmosphere LIMS.