Influence of planetary waves on total ozone column distribution in northern and southern high latitudes

Results of a comparative analysis of quasi-stationary planetary wave (QSW) influences on total ozone column (TOC) distribution at 60 degrees N and 60 degrees S latitudes are presented. Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) version 8 total ozone satellite data for years 1979-2003 were used to examine the longitudinal variation of ozone distribution. Three-month averages for each year were used to obtain the spatial distribution and spectral components of the QSW patterns. Long-term changes of QSW characteristics are compared for the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Quasi-stationary wave 1 dominates in the Southern hemisphere (SH) during spring for all analysed years. The amplitude of wave 1 is also largest, although wave 2 reaches a close level in several years in the Northern hemisphere (NH). The maximal TOC disturbances by planetary waves are observed in the winter-spring period both in the NH (January-March) and SH (August-October). During the development of the Antarctic ozone hole (from mid-1980s to the present), the QSW phase at 60 degrees N does not show longitudinal motion observed at 60 degrees S. Both hemispheres show strong inter-annual variability in both position and amplitude of the QSW pattern.