OMPS LP Observations of PSC Variability During the NH 2019–2020 Season
M. T. DeLand, P. K. Bhartia, N. A. Kramarova, Zhong‐Qiang Chen
Abstract
Abstract Seasonal ozone depletion in the polar regions (during late winter and early spring) depends on the presence and distribution of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). In this paper, we present new satellite observations of PSCs by the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Limb Profiler (LP) instrument. LP cloud detections are identified as PSCs based on location, altitude, and background atmosphere temperature. The hyperspectral capabilities of OMPS LP enable PSC detection to occur concurrent with stratospheric ozone measurements from the same instrument. We present PSC results from the Northern Hemisphere 2019–2010 winter/spring season to illustrate the exceptional nature of this season. Future OMPS LP instruments flying on Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites will continue PSC observations into the 2030s.