OZONE VARIABILITY OVER THE SOUTHERN-HEMISPHERE

The variability of atmospheric ozone over the southern hemisphere is d escribed, being important in understanding the health effects of ozone depletion, A brief summary is provided of the main features and cause s of the observed global mean ozone distribution and its seasonal cycl e, Next follows a more detailed discussion of ozone fluctuations occur ring across the range of timescales from a day to many Sears, their va riation with latitude and season, and their primary causes, Then the l ong-term trends are considered; their spatial and seasonal structure, and current understanding of the mechanisms responsible, The paper con cludes with a brief discussion of a few of the more pressing scientifi c issues faced by ozone researchers, and some speculation on the prosp ects for ozone-layer depletion into the next century.