On the solar/QBO effect on the interannual variability of total ozone and the stratospheric circulation over Northern Europe

Based on total ozone data from the World Ozone Data Center and stratospheri c geopotential height data from the Meteorological Institute of Berlin Free University for the months of January through March for the time period of 1958-1996, the influence of the 11-year solar cycle and the equatorial quas i-biennial oscillation (QBO) on total ozone and the stratospheric circulati on at 30 hPa over Northern Europe is investigated. The analysis is performe d for different levels of solar activity. The relationship of the equatoria l QBO with ozone and the stratospheric circulation over the study region ex hibits unique features attributed to strong opposite connections between th e equatorial zonal wind and ozone/stratospheric dynamics during periods of solar minimum and maximum. Using the Solar/QBO effect, a statistical extrac tion of the interannual variations of total ozone and stratospheric circula tion over Northern Europe has been attempted. The variations extracted and observed for late winter show very good correspondence, The solar/QBO effec t in total ozone and stratospheric dynamics over Northern Europe appears to be related to planetary wave activity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.