The atmosphere is changing and the potential consequences for the "System Earth" are manifold. Dynamics, chemistry, and radiation determine its state and because all are coupled with each other via various mechanisms it is often difficult to identify a direct link between causes and consequences. A better understanding of this system requires integral, continuous, precise, long term and global observations. In order to contribute to this effort of improved understanding, the World Data Center for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere (WDC-RSAT) was established. ... more
Ozone Hole Size Size of the Antarctic ozone hole for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The ozone hole sizes shown here are derived using the ROSE/DLR Chemistry and Transport Model (CTM) assimilating total ozone columns derived from MetOp/GOME-2 measurements. To allow the comparison of the ozone hole extents comparing the different years, only trace gas information derived from GOME-2 as well as an equivalent model setup was applied. The size of the ozone hole is defined as the area where the total ozone columns amount is below 220 DU. Further links: WMO Antarctic Ozone Bulletins 2009. Southern Hemisphere Ozone Analysis Page. Media products (Windows Media). Near-real-time GOME-2 observations and model analyses.