Project

4293

Chief Investigator

KLEKOCIUK, Dr Andrew - Australian Antarctic Division

Title

Australia-China Ozone Research Nexus (ACORN)

Project aims

We will extend the detailed measurement record of atmospheric ozone in the vicinity of Davis station in East Antarctica using routinely launched balloon-borne ozone sensors. These measurements will contribute to global monitoring of the long-term behaviour of ozone in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. Research activities associated with our project will continue the assessment of ozone variability associated with the Antarctic ozone hole and human-caused ozone depletion, and the influence of climate change, pollution and natural processes on the chemistry of the lower atmosphere. Information from the project will assist in the validation of satellite sensors and the evaluation of global and regional climate models, and provide data for on-going analyses of global atmospheric composition.

Project gallery


Project Summary of the Season 2015/16

Measurements of the atmospheric concentration of ozone as a function of height from the ground to about 30 km were made at approximately weekly intervals at Davis Research Station throughout the season. The measurements, which were obtained with balloon-borne ozonesondes, provided data for the long-term monitoring and investigation of the Antarctic ozone hole. During the spring of 2015, the ozone hole above Davis was unusually strong and long-lived compared with recent years. Initial research indicates that this was due to unusually stable and cold conditions in the lower stratosphere that appear linked to warm temperatures in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Other research investigating the long-terms trend in ozone above Davis indicates that it is not yet possible to detect the unambiguous sign of a recovery in spring ozone levels above Davis, although this is expected to become apparent in the next few years.

Project Summary of the Season 2016/17

Measurements of the atmospheric concentration of ozone as a function of height from the ground to about 35 km were made at weekly-to-monthly intervals at Davis Research Station throughout the season. The measurements, which were obtained with balloon-borne ozonesondes, provided data for the long-term monitoring and investigation of the Antarctic ozone hole. During the spring of 2016, the ozone hole above Davis was relatively weak and short-lived compared with the ozone hole of 2015. Initial research indicates that this was due to relatively warm and disturbed conditions in the lower stratosphere in 2016, and reduced levels of volcanic stratospheric aerosols that aided ozone loss in 2015. Other research investigating the long-terms trend in ozone above Davis indicates that it is still not yet possible to detect the unambiguous sign of a recovery in spring ozone levels above Davis, although this is expected to become apparent in the next few years.

Project Summary of the Season 2017/18

Measurements of the atmospheric concentration of ozone as a function of height from the ground to about 35 km were made at weekly intervals at Davis Research Station throughout the 2017/18 season. The measurements, which were obtained with balloon-borne ozonesondes, provided data for the continued long-term monitoring and investigation of the Antarctic ozone hole. During the spring of 2017, the ozone hole above Davis was the weakest observed since measurements began at the site in 2003. Initial research indicates that this was primarily due to relatively warm and disturbed meteorological conditions in the lower stratosphere that mitigated the overall level of ozone destruction. Other research investigating the long-terms trend in ozone indicates that it is still not yet possible to detect the unambiguous sign of a recovery in spring ozone levels above Davis, although recovery apparent more widely over Antarctica. This is because the Davis observational record is relatively short (15 years) and the influence of inter-annual meteorological variability at the site is relatively large. We expect an increase in spring ozone levels over Davis to become apparent in the next few years as concentrations of human-produced ozone depleting chemicals in the Antarctic stratosphere continue to decline.

Project Summary of the Season 2018/19

Measurements of the atmospheric concentration of ozone as a function of height from the ground up to about 35 km were made at weekly intervals at Davis Research Station throughout the 2018/19 season. The measurements, which were obtained with balloon-borne ozonesondes, provided data for the continued long-term monitoring and investigation of the Antarctic ozone hole. During the spring of 2018, the ozone hole above Davis was relatively large in comparison with recent years, and ozone levels in between 12 km and 20 km height in September and October were amongst the lowest observed since records began in 2003. Initial research indicates that this was primarily due to cold and stable meteorological conditions in the lower stratosphere that aided the overall level of ozone destruction. Other research investigating the long-terms trend in ozone shows that there are unambiguous signs of a recovery in spring ozone levels above Davis over a limited height range (near 20 km), in line with other areas of Antarctica. We expect, on average, a continued increase in spring ozone levels over Davis over coming years as concentrations of human-produced ozone depleting chemicals in the Antarctic stratosphere continue to decline, although there will continue to be variability in ozone levels from year to year due to meteorological factors.

Project Summary of the Season 2019/20

Measurements of the atmospheric concentration of ozone as a function of height from the ground up to about 35 km were made at weekly intervals at Davis Research Station throughout the 2019/20 season. The measurements, which were obtained with balloon-borne ozonesondes, provided data for the continued long-term monitoring and investigation of the Antarctic ozone hole. During the spring of 2019, ozone concentrations in the lower stratosphere (12-30 km altitude) above Davis were high in comparison with recent years, with only a relatively small influence from the Antarctic ozone hole during the spring months. This was because of two related factors; (1) the overall size of the ozone hole in 2019 was one of the smallest observed since the 1980s because of strong meteorological warming of the Antarctic atmosphere in September and October; (2) the ozone hole was situated generally more poleward from Davis than usual as a result of the warming, allowing ozone-rich air from mid-latitudes to move over the site. Overall, the relatively high ozone concentrations over Davis in the spring of 2019 were primarily the result of meteorological processes rather than on-going international controls on ozone depleting chemicals. Research being prepared for peer-review shows that over 2003-2018 there was a statistically significant positive trend in spring ozone levels over a limited height range (near 20 km) above Davis, in line with other areas of Antarctica. We expect that, on a multi-year timescale, there will be a continued future increase in spring ozone levels over Davis as concentrations of human-produced ozone depleting chemicals in the Antarctic stratosphere continue to decline, although there will continue to be variability in ozone levels from year to year, such as that seen in 2019, due to meteorological factors.

Final Summary of Project Achievements

Measurements of the atmospheric concentration of ozone as a function of height from the ground up to about 35 km were made at weekly intervals at Davis Research Station throughout the 2020/21 season. The measurements, which were obtained with balloon-borne ozonesondes, provided data for the continued long-term monitoring and investigation of the Antarctic ozone hole. During the spring of 2020, ozone concentrations in the lower stratosphere (14-22 km altitude) above Davis were below the long-term average. Some measurements from late-October to mid-December were the smallest observed since measurements began in 2003. These low ozone concentrations were the result of the 2020 ozone hole being relatively large, particularly in late-spring to early-summer when new records were set for observed ozone depletion. This strongly contrasted with the situation in 2019 when the ozone hole was one of the smallest observed. A key factor in 2020 was the relative stability and strength of the atmospheric circulation over Antarctica, which allowed low temperatures to enhance ozone depletion reactions in relative isolation from the rest of the global atmosphere. These conditions were favoured by the prevailing large-scale climate modes, particularly the emerging La Niña phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation. While 2020 was unusual in comparison to recent years, we expect that, on a multi-year timescale, there will be a continued future increase in spring ozone levels over Davis. This is expected based on the observed declining levels of ozone depleting substances in the atmosphere as a direct result of the Montreal protocol. However, we expect that there will continue to be variability in ozone levels from year to year, such as that seen in 2020, due to meteorological factors.

Project Summary of the Season 2021/22

Measurements of the atmospheric concentration of ozone as a function of height from the ground up to about 35 km were made at weekly intervals at Davis Research Station throughout the 2021/22 season. The measurements, which were obtained with balloon-borne ozonesondes, provided data for the continued long-term monitoring and investigation of the Antarctic ozone hole. During the spring of 2021, ozone concentrations in the lower stratosphere (14-22 km altitude) above Davis were below the long-term average, and similar to conditions in 2020. A key factor promoting strong ozone depletion in 2020 was the relative stability and strength of the atmospheric circulation over Antarctica, which allowed low temperatures to enhance ozone depletion reactions in relative isolation from the rest of the global atmosphere. These conditions were favoured by the prevailing large-scale climate modes, particularly the continuing La Niña phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation.

Category 1: Peer-reviewed literature

Greenslade J.W., Alexander S.P., Schofield R., Fisher J.A., Klekociuk A.R. (2017) Stratospheric ozone intrusion events and their impacts on tropospheric ozone in the Southern Hemisphere, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 17. 10269-10290; [Ref: 15886]

Langematz U., Tully M., Calvo N., Dameris M., de Lat A.J.T, Klekociuk A., Muller R., Young P. (2019) Update on Polar Stratospheric Ozone: Past, Present, and Future, in: Polar Stratospheric Ozone: Past, Present, and Future 1-63; [Ref: 16037]

Klekociuk A.R., Tully M.B., Krummel P.B., Evtushevsky O., Kravchenko V., Henderson S.I., Alexander S.P., Querel R.R., Nichol S., Smale D., Milinevsky G.P., Grytsai A., Fraser P.J., Xiangdong Z., Gies H.P., Schofield R., Shanklin J.D. (2019) The Antarctic Ozone Hole during 2017, Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science .; [Ref: 16152]

Nicely J.M., Duncan B.N., Hanisco T.F., Wolfe G.M., Salawitch R.J., Deushi M., Haslerud A.S., Jöckel P., Josse B., Kinnison D.E., Klekociuk A., Manyin M.E., Marécal V., Morgenstern O., Murray L.T., Myhre G., Oman L.D., Pitari G., Pozzer A., Quaglia I., Revell L.E., Rozanov E., Stenke A., Stone K., Strahan S., Tilmes S., Tost H., Westervelt D.M., Zeng G. (2020) A machine learning examination of hydroxyl radical differences among model simulations for CCMI-1, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 1341–1361; [Ref: 16234]

Tully M.B., Krummel P.B., Klekociuk A.R. (2020) Trends in Antarctic ozone hole metrics 2001-2017, Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth System Science 52-56; [Ref: 16317]

Evtushevsky O., Klekociuk A.R., Kravchenko V., Milinevsky G., Grytsai A. (2020) The influence of large amplitude planetary waves on the Antarctic ozone hole of austral spring 2017, Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth System Science 57-64; [Ref: 16318]

Tully M.B., Klekociuk A.R., Krummel P.B., Gies H.P., Alexander S.P., Fraser P.J., Henderson S.I., Schofield R., Shanklin J.D., Stone K.A. (2020) The Antarctic ozone hole during 2015 and 2016, Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth System Science 16-28; [Ref: 16319]

Krummel P., Klekociuk A.R., Tully M.B., Gies H.P., Alexander S.P., Fraser P.J., Henderson S.I., Schofield R., Shanklin J.D., Stone K.A. (2020) The Antarctic ozone hole during 2014, Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth System Science 1-15; [Ref: 16320]

Grytsai A., Evtushevsky O., Klekociuk A., Milinevsky G., Yampolsky Y., Ivaniha O., Wang Y. (2020) Investigation of the Vertical Influence of the 11-Year Solar Cycle on Ozone Using SBUV and Antarctic Ground-Based Measurements and CMIP6 Forcing Data, Atmosphere 2020 873; [Ref: 16321]

Milinevsky G., Evtushevsky O., Klekociuk A.R., Wang Y., Grytsai A., Shulga V., Ivaniha O. (2020) Early indications of anomalous behaviour in the 2019 spring ozone hole over Antarctica, International Journal of Remote Sensing 7530-7540; [Ref: 16322]

Robinson S.A., Klekociuk A.R., King D.H., Pizarro Rojas M., Zúñiga G.E., Bergstrom D.M. (2020) The 2019/2020 summer of Antarctic heatwaves, Global Change Biology 3178-3180; [Ref: 16323]

Shankar Das S., Ramkumar G., Koushik N., Murphy D.J., Girach I.A., Suneeth K.V., Subrahmanyam K.V., Soni V.K., Kumar V., Nazeer M. (2020) Multiplatform observations of stratosphere-troposphere exchange over the Bharati (69.41°S, 76°E), Antarctica during ISEA-35, Journal of Atmospheric. Solar Terrestrial Physics .; [Ref: 16336]

Neale, R. E., , Barnes, P. W, Robson, T. M., Neale, P. J., Williamson, C. E., Zepp, R. G, Klekociuk A.R., Zhu M. (2021) Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion UV radiation and interactions with climate change - UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Photochemical Photobiological Sciences 1-67; [Ref: 16348]

Siddaway J., Klekociuk A., Alexander S.P., Grytsai A., Milinevsky G., Dargaville R., Ivaniha O., Evtushevsky O. (2020) Assessment of the zonal asymmetry trend in Antarctic total ozone column using TOMS measurements and CCMVal-2 models, Ukrainian Antarctic Journal 2. 50-58; [Ref: 16376]

Wang Y., Milinevsky G., Evtushevsky O., Klekociuk A.R., Han W., Grystai A., Antyufeyev O., Shi Y., Inaniha O., Shulga V. (2021) Planetary Wave Spectrum in the Stratosphere–Mesosphere during Sudden Stratospheric Warming 2018, Remote Sensing 13 (6). 1190; [Ref: 16386]

Klekociuk A.R., Tully M.B., Krummel P.B., Henderson S.I., Smale D., Querel R., Nichol S., Alexander S.P., Fraser P.J., Nedoluha G. (2021) The Antarctic ozone hole during 2018 and 2019,, Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth System Science 71. .; [Ref: 16387]

Shi Y., Evtushevsky O., Milinevsky G., Klekociuk A., Han W., Ivaniha O., Shulga V., Zhang C. (2022) Zonal Asymmetry of the Stratopause in the 2019/2020 Arctic Winter, Remote Sens .; [Ref: 16436]

Zhang C., Evtushevsky O., Milinevsky G., Klekociuk A., Andrienko Y., Shulga V., Han w. , Shi Y. (2022) The Annual Cycle in Mid-Latitude Stratospheric and Mesospheric Ozone Associated with Quasi-Stationary Wave Structure by the MLS Data 2011–2020, Remote Sens .; [Ref: 16445]

Zhang C., Grytsai A., Evtushevsky O., Milinevsky G., Andrienko Y., Shulga V., Klekociuk A., Rapoport Y., Han W. (2022) Rossby Waves in Total Ozone over the Arctic in 2000–2021, Remote Sensing .; [Ref: 16485]

Klekociuk A.R., Tully M.B., Krummel P.B., Henderson S.I., Smale D. (2022) The Antarctic ozone hole during 2020, Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science .; [Ref: 16486]

Shi Y., Evtushevsky O., Shulga V., Milinevski G., Klekociuk A. (2021) Mid-Latitude Mesospheric Zonal Wave 1 and Wave 2 in Recent Boreal Winters, Remote Sensing .; [Ref: 16487]

Barnes P.W., Robson, T.M., Neal P.J, Williamson C.E, Klekociuk A.J. (2022) Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2021, Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences .; [Ref: 16527]

Grytsai A., Milinevsky G., Andrienko Y., Klekociuk A., Rapoport Y., Ivaniha O. (2022) Antarctic planetary wave spectrum under different polar vortex conditions in 2019 and 2020 based on total ozone column data, Ukrainian Antarctic Journal .; [Ref: 16585]

Hope P., Reid P., Tobin S., Tully M.B., Klekociuk A.R., Krummel P.B. (2015) Seasonal climate summary southern hemisphere (spring 2014): El Niño continues to try to break through, and Australia has its warmest spring on record (again!), Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal 65(2). 267-292; [Ref: 15740]

Stone K.A., Solomon S., Kinnison D.E., Pitts M.C., Poole L.R., Mills M.J., Schmidt A., Neely III R.R., Ivy D., Schwartz M.J., Vernier J.-P. , Johnson B.J., Tully M.B., Klekociuk A.R., König-Langlo G., Hagiya S. (2017) Observing the impact of Calbuco volcanic aerosols on South Polar ozone depletion in 2015, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres .; [Ref: 15883]

Barnes P.W., Robson T.M., Zepp R.G., Bornman J.F., Jansen M.A.K, Klekociuk A.R. (2023) Interactive effects of changes in UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and feedbacks to the climate system, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences .; [Ref: 16635]

Milinevsky G.P., Grytsai A.V., Evtushevsky O.M., Klekociuk A.R. (2023) Contributions to understanding climate interactions: stratospheric ozone, Akademperiodyka .; [Ref: 16636]

Shi Y., Evtushevsky O.M., Milinevsky G.P., Grytsai A., Klekociuk A., Ivaniha O., Andrienko Y. (2023) The data processing and analysis methods for stratospheric ozone and planetary wave study, Ukrainian Antarctic Journal .; [Ref: 16749]

Bernhard G.H., Bais A.F., Aucamp P.J., Klekociuk A.R., Liley J.B., McKenzie R.L. (2023) Stratospheric ozone, UV radiation, and climate interactions, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences .; [Ref: 16778]

Barnes P.W., Bomman J.F., Pandey K.K., Bernhard G.H., Bais A.F., Neale R.E., Robson T.M., Neale P.J., Williamson C.E., Klekociuk A.R. (2023) Executive Summary in: Environmental Effects of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, UV Radiation, and Interactions with Climate Change: 2022 Assessment Report, United Nations Environment Programme special report .; [Ref: 16816]

Category 2: International meeting papers

Klekociuk A.R. (2022) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel: Summary update 2021 for policymakers, United Nations Environment Programme .; [Ref: 16784]

Category 3: Conference paper

Tully M.B., Galbally I.E., Klekociuk A.R. (2021) An overview of the Aspendale/Laverton/Broadmeadows ozonesonde record, Atmospheric Composition & Chemistry Observations & Modelling Conference incorporating the Cape Grim Annual Science Meeting 2021 .; [Ref: 16608]

Klekociuk A.R., Alexander S.P. (2021) The air chemistry capability of RSV Nuyina, Atmospheric Composition & Chemistry Observations & Modelling Conference incorporating the Cape Grim Annual Science Meeting 2021 .; [Ref: 16609]

Krummel P.B., Klekociuk A.R., Tully M.B., Fraser P.J., Derek N. (2021) The 2021 Antarctic ozone hole, Atmospheric Composition & Chemistry Observations & Modelling Conference incorporating the Cape Grim Annual Science Meeting 2021 .; [Ref: 16610]

Krummel P., Klekociuk A.R., Tully M., Derek N. (2021) The 2020 Antarctic ozone hole, Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society 28th Annual Conference online 8-12 February 2021 .; [Ref: 16385]

Tully M.B., Klekociuk A.R. (2020) Antarctic ozone increase measured by Davis ozonesondes, Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS) Annual Conference and the International Conference on Indian Ocean Meteorology and Oceanography 2020, Fremantle Western Australia, 10-14 February 2020 .; [Ref: 16236]

Krummel P., Klekociuk A.R., Tully M.B., Fraser P., Derek N. (2020) The 2019 Antarctic ozone hole, Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS) Annual Conference and the International Conference on Indian Ocean Meteorology and Oceanography 2020, Fremantle Western Australia 10-14 February 2020. .; [Ref: 16237]

Krummel P.B., Fraser P.J., Klekociuk A.R., Tully M.B., Derek N. (2017) The 2017 Antarctic ozone hole, 2017 Atmospheric Composition and Chemistry Observations and Modelling Conference, incorporating the Cape Grim Annual Science Meeting, Murramarang, Australia, 8-10 November 2017 .; [Ref: 15908]

Krummel P.B., Fraser P.J., Klekociuk A.R., Derek N. (2016) The 2016 Antarctic ozone hole, 2016 Atmospheric Composition and Chemistry Observations and Modelling Conference, incorporating the Cape Grim Annual Science Meeting, Stanley, Australia, 16-18 November 2016 .; [Ref: 15912]

Krummel P.B., Fraser P.J., Klekociuk A.R., Tully M.B., Derek N. (2018) The 2018 Antarctic ozone hole, Atmospheric Composition and Chemistry Observations and Modelling Conference incorporating the Cape Grim Annual Science Meeting 2018, Aspendale, Australia, 4-6 December .; [Ref: 16036]

Category 3: Poster

Tully M.B., Klekociuk A.R. (2021) Antarctic ozone depletion measured by Davis ozonesondes 2003-2020, Quadrennial Ozone Symposium of the International Ozone Commission QOS 2021 .; [Ref: 16605]

Grytsai A., Milinevsky G., Andrienko Y., Klekociuk A., Rapoport Y., Shi Y., Ivaniha O., Zhang C., Evtushevsky O. (2022) Rossby waves in total ozone distribution over the Arctic at the beginning of the 21st century, 10th SCAR Open Science Conference: Antarctica in a Changing World, 1-10 August 2022, E-Poster presentation Abstract 328, pg87; [Ref: 17026]

Category 3: Verbal presentation

Milinevsky G., Grytsai A., Andrienko Y., Klekociuk A., Rapoport Y., Shi Y., Ivaniha O. (2022) Comparison of the planetary wave spectrum in the 2019 Antarctic SSW with the 2020 non-SSW strong vortex conditions using ozone data, 10th SCAR Open Science Conference: Antarctica in a Changing World, 1-10 August 2022, Oral presentation Abstract 327, pg89; [Ref: 17025]

Category 4: Popular articles

Klekociuk A.R., Krummel P.B. (2017) After 30 years of the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is gradually healing, The Conversation, 15 September 2017 .; [Ref: 15885]