Unusual enhancement in tropospheric and surface ozone due to orography induced gravity waves

In this study, we investigate the causative processes responsible for the observed enhancement in the tropospheric and surface ozone during December 09–11, 2008 orography induced gravity wave event over Himalayan region. The analysis is done using surface ozone measurements and satellite datasets from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AIRS/AMSU-A), COSMIC, TES and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO). Observations depict a two fold increase in surface and tropospheric ozone during the event as compared to normal days in both AIRS and TES ozone measurements. COSMIC temperature perturbations show generation of shorter vertical wavelengths efficient for the sub-tropical tropopause folding due to orography induced gravity waves. Moreover, the intense tropopause folding as evidenced by upward-downward vertical velocities couplet could trigger the intrusion of stratospheric ozone rich air into upper tropospheric ozone poor air as also confirmed by high values of potential vorticity during the observational period. Hence, present study reemphasizes the importance of wave induced atmospheric dynamics on atmospheric constituents' especially tropospheric ozone over Himalayan region. •Tropospheric ozone enhancement observed by multi-space borne sensors•Tropopause folding due to orography induced short vertical wavelength gravity waves.•Importance of STE process in tropospheric ozone over Himalayan region