Remote sensing of atmospheric ozone at millimeter waves

We present new results of remote sensing of the vertical distribution of ozone at millimeter waves using the FIAN (P.N. Lebedev Institute of Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences) high-sensitivity spectroradiometer which includes a new 96-channel spectrum analyzer AS-96 with improved characteristics. The ozone radiation spectrum is recorded at a frequency of 142.2 GHz. Vertical profile of ozone is retrieved using an improved algorithm based on Tikhonov’s method and statistical regularization technique. Specific features of the altitude-temporal distribution of ozone, which reflects ozonospheric processes above mid-latitudes are considered. Variations in the vertical distribution of ozone during major stratospheric warming in January 2009 are shown. It was concluded that the creation of a national ground-based network for ozone monitoring at millimeter waves in Russia is a must.