First measurements of the vertical structure of ozone over Costa Rica: Ticosonde and SHADOZ ozonesondes, 2005 to present

摘要

Vertical profiles of ozone have been measured since July 2005 at Alajuela and Heredia, Costa Rica (10.0° N, 84.1° W) using balloon-borne electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozonesondes. Measurements were obtained in the following campaigns: Ticosonde Aura-TCSP, Ticosonde CRAVE, and Ticosonde/Veranillo and in regular launches supported by the Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozonesondes program (SHADOZ), which have continued between these campaigns and are ongoing. The profiles show a great variability in ozone mixing ratios. At 18 UTC the mean O_3 mixing ratio in the boundary layer is 33.9 ppbv and at 06 UTC ～12.8 ppbv. It reached a maximum of 64 ppbv in the 18 UTC sounding on 11 April 2006. In the middle and upper troposphere also a large variability was observed. The variability in the profiles suggest different sources of ozone i.e., in situ photochemistry, long-range transport and transport from the stratosphere.