Effects of Non-photochemical Processes O N the Meridional Distribution and Total Amount of Ozone in the Atmosphere

The photochemical equilibrium distribution of oAone below 41 km. is computed for the solstices and equinoxes from recent rocket obscrvatioiis of the solar ultraviolct energy received at the top of the atmosphere. In this study an attempt is made to investigate the important part played by the mean scnsonal transport processes in distributing the ozone below 41 km. in the stratosphere To make such an investigation i t is assumed that a steady state meridional distribution of ozone is produced when photochemical and transport processes arc acting together. Relevant theory and numerical procedure to compute such a steady state mcridional distribution of ozone have been developed. In order t o make a model of the transport processes that is needed for thc calciilation of the distribution of ozone, theoretical and observational information available a t prcsciit on the various transport processcs present in the stratosphere is reviewed. Further, in the calculations of ozone an attempt is made to combine the mean meridional motions and the large-scale mixing processes within the limits acceptable to the current ideas on these transport processes. The seasonal distribution of tgtal ozone thus computed from the model of the transport processes and with an assumption of steady state csnditioris shon s a satisfactory agreement \\ itti the observed seasonal and latitudinal variation of t.otal ozone. The nieaii annual total ozone variation with latitude deduced from the csmpiitcd seasonal distribution of total ozone, demonstrates the ability of the method developed here to :tccaunt for the mean ariniial total ozone variation with latitude obscrvcd in the earth’s atmosphere. The model of the transport processes devclopcd in this study to calculate the distribution of o ~ o i i e in the atmosphere emphasizes the importance of the large-scale eddy diffusion processes. The theoretical and observational findings from the spread of Wig5 (a radioactive isotope of tungsten introduced into the stratosphere by nuclcar explosions) have been very useful in making this model of the transport processes.