Variability of total column ozone content measured at Chisinau site, Republic of Moldov

Abstract

Results of the total column ozone measurements at the ground-based solar radiation monitoring station in Chisinau, Moldova are presented. Column ozone content was derived from the ratios of direct solar ultraviolet radiances measured at 3 discrete wavelengths 305-, 312-, 320-nm within UV-B range. Ozone measurements are regularly carried out with hand- held MICROTOPS II Ozonometer, Solar Light Co. Monthly averages of total column ozone content measured with MICROTOPS II ozonometer at the Chisinau site are in close agreement with those retrieved from the multi-year (1957-2005) measurements carried out at number of ground stations and at the satellite platforms Nimbus -7, Meteor-3, and Earth Probe equipped with the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). Total ozone content reveals distinctive seasonal variation at the Chisinau site with maximum and minimum values in spring and fall, respectively. Climatic mean value of total column ozone content derived from TOMS data at the Chisinau site amounts to 334.7 DU. 1. Introduction