Double cores of the Ozone Low in the vertical direction over the Asian continent in satellite data sets

Using four satellite data sets (TOMS/SBUV, OMI, MLS, and HALOE), we analyze the seasonal variations of the total column ozone (TCO) and its zonal deviation (TCO*), and reveal the vertical structure of the Ozone Low (OV) over the Asian continent. Our principal findings are: (1) The TCO over the Asian continent reaches its maximum in the spring and its minimum in the autumn. The Ozone Low exists from May to September. (2) The Ozone Low has two negative cores, located in the lower and the upper stratosphere. The lower core is near 30 hPa in the winter and 70 hPa in the other seasons. The upper core varies from 10 hPa to 1 hPa among the four seasons. (3) The position of the Ozone Low in the lower and the upper stratosphere over the Asian continent shows seasonal variability.