Quasi-Biennial and Other Long-Period Variations in the Solar Semidiurnal Barometric Oscillation: Observations, Theory and Possible Application to the Problem of Monitoring Changes in Global Ozone

Abstract

A 21-year record of monthly mean determinations of the solar semidiurnal surface pressure oscillation [S2(p) at Batavia (6.2°S) was analyzed to detect long-period variability. When the S2(p) determination were resolved into components which peak at local midnight (and noon) and 0900 (and 2100) local solar time, considerable evidence was found for a quasi-biennial variation in the 0900 component (but not in the midnight component). It is shown that this is consistent with the expected response of S2(p) to the familiar quasi-biennial oscillation of the tropical stratosphere. Also apparent in the record is a very long term trend in S2(p). It is suggested that this way be an indication of a similar trend in stratospheric ozone, and the possibility of using the surface pressure oscillation in monitoring long-term changes in atmospheric ozone is discussed.