SOME ANALOGOUS SYNOPTIC FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OZONE MINIMA OVER THE NORTH-WEST PACIFIC AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA

Global minima in total ozone occur over the north-west Pacific during the active winter monsoon period and over south-east Asia during the a ctive summer monsoon period. The earth's highest tropopause level appe ars during the occurrence of ozone minimum over these regions. Further , the earth's coldest monthly mean temperature at around the 100 hPa l evel during the corresponding months of ozone minimum is also seen the re. The data for outgoing long-wave radiation for the earth show minim um values over the north-west Pacific during January and over south-ea st Asia during July indicating deep convection over these areas. The m onthly mean of rainfall takes the highest global value during this per iod. An interpretation is offered that the thickness of the ozone-rich layer in the lower stratosphere is reduced by the overshooting of tro pospheric ozone-poor air by intense convective activities.