LOCAL ATMOSPHERIC OZONE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE AS OBSERVED AT KUALA LUMPUR (2.73ON, 101.7OE), MALAYSIA

Abstract

We present the first comprehensive analysis of attributing large-scale influence on the local changes in atmospheric ozone over Kuala Lumpur (KL).  KL is located near the western fringe of the equatorial South China Sea.  We focus on radio- and ozone- sonde data available from the Southern Hemisphere ADditional OZonesondes (SHADOZ) network and investigate the variability and trends observed from 1998 to 2016.  The most important drivers of variability over KL are the Quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). QBO signatures are evident in both the stratospheric ozone and temperature anomalies (including the 2016 disruption) while ENSO plays a small role in impacting tropospheric ozone and temperature variabilities.  Over KL chemical depletion of stratospheric ozone is small and occurs in conjunction with decreasing temperature trend.  However, tropospheric ozone and temperature show increasing trends.  Apart from attributing observed local ozone and temperature changes to the most important drivers of year-to-year variability, trends obtained are regional indicators of a changing climate.