Solar cycle variations of stratospheric ozone and temperature in simulations of a coupled chemistry-climate model

Abstract

Abstract. The results from three 45-year simulations of a coupled chemistry climate model are analysed for solar cycle influences on ozone and temperature. The simulations include UV forcing at the top of the atmosphere, which includes a generic 27-day solar rotation effect as well as the observed monthly values of the solar fluxes. The results are analysed for the 27-day and 11-year cycles in temperature and ozone. In accordance with previous results, the 27-day cycle results are in good qualitative agreement with observations, particularly for ozone. However, the results show significant variations, typically a factor of two or more in sensitivity to solar flux, depending on the solar cycle. We show for the first time good agreement also between the observed 11-year cycle and model results for the ozone vertical profile, which both indicate a minimum in solar response near 20 hPa. In comparison, simulations of the model with fixed solar phase (solar maximum/solar mean) and climatological sea surface temperatures lead to a poor simulation of the solar response in the ozone vertical profile. The results indicate the need for variable phase simulations in solar sensitivity experiments and the role of sea surface temperatures is discussed.