Using GOME/ERS-2 Ozone Total Column Measurements for Climate Monitoring

Diego G. Loyola R.

German Aerospace Center (DLR); Remote Sensing Technology Institute (IMF); Oberpfaffenhofen, Wessling, Germany

E-mail: Diego.Loyola@dlr.de

Abstract

The GOME/ERS-2 satellite data record covers now 11 years and it is being used for trace gases trend analysis. Ozone retrieval algorithms for GOME have been improved continuously, with the current operational algorithm (GDP 4.0) reaching the accuracy of ground-based measurements. GOME ozone total columns from July 1995 to now were reprocessed with the GDP 4.0 algorithm. Independent validation showed that the accuracy of GOME is at the percentage level compared with ground-based instruments. The absence of any significant time-dependent bias in the GOME data demonstrates the long-term stability of the instrument. The 11 years of GOME ozone total column are presented, including the development of the ozone hole over Antarctic and ozone mini-holes over Europe. The GOME data is then compared to ozone predictions of a coupled chemistry climate model. Finally an outlook for GOME-2/MetOp, that will extend the GOME data record to 25 years, is given.