Detection of small scale structures in ozone layer by microwave sounding

Microwave measurements have been made at Nizhny Novgorod (56°N, 44°E) during October-December 1994 and during January-February 1996. The first series of the observations were carried out during the CRISTA/MAHRSI campaign. The Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere (CRISTA) was flown on the ASTRO-SPAS satellite and operated from November 4 through November 12, 1994, yielding thousands of ozone radiance profiles with excellent coverage and resolution. With this data set it is be possible to examine details of the dynamics of the nearly global ozone distribution from 59°S to 64°W latitude and from about 15 to 80 km altitude. The authors have measured the stratospheric ozone using the original two-beam technique for a correlative measurement program set up for validation studies. This technique allows one to investigate spatial-temporal variations of ozone in two regions spaced about 150-350 km along north-south directions at altitudes above 20 km. With this technique, observations do not depend on sunlight, and may be conducted through moderately thick cloud cover, and are not significantly affected by aerosols. A total power radiometer scheme was used. The instrumentation consists of a mm wave receiver and a multichannel spectrometer. The receiver is tuned to the ozone 6_1,5-6_0,6 rotational transition at 110.836 GHz