Quasi-biennial oscillation signatures in ozone and temperature observed bylidar at Mauna Loa, Hawaii (19.5 degrees N, 155.6 degrees W)

Using nearly 6 years of nighttime differential absorption lidar ozone and R ayleigh/Raman lidar temperature measurements obtained by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, the stratospheric quasi-bienn ial oscillation (QBO) signatures (.15-55 km) in ozone and temperature are r evealed. Several clear QBO signatures have been observed in both temperatur e and ozone. The QBO signature in temperature maximizes at 35 km (5 K ampli tude) and is seasonally synchronized (winter) and out of phase with the exp ected signature at the equator. Also, for the periods 1994-1996 and 1998-20 00 the QBO is observable above 45 km, and near 24 km, with opposite phase t o that observed at 35 km. The clearest QBO signature in stratospheric ozone maximizes near 31 km and is also seasonally synchronized in late winter-ea rly spring and is out of phase with the expected equatorial ozone QBO anoma ly. Other signatures are observed in winter-spring near 47 km, in summer ne ar 26 km, and in winter-spring near 22 km, in phase, in phase, and out of p hase, respectively, with the expected equatorial ozone QBO. These QBO anoma lies identified in ozone and temperature are highly consistent with the pre viously observed and modeled QBO anomalies assuming that Hawaii is located in the subtropical branch of the asymmetrical QBO-induced meridional circul ation. The observed temperature and ozone QBO were both strongly disturbed by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation below 25-27 km in 1997-1998.