Anomalously low total ozone levels over the northern Urals and Siberia in late January 2016

Abstract

In late January 2016, over the northern Urals and Siberia, the total ozone amounts at the level of about 200 DU were recorded for the first time over the entire period of observations since 1970s, classified as ozone “mini-hole”. We analyzed the possible causes and factors responsible for the anomalously low total ozone levels during winter of 2016 as compared to a number of previous Arctic winters with severe ozone depletion. Dynamic factors are shown to play a dominating role in the occurrence of the ozone anomaly in late January 2016, and even more significant ozone anomalies in the Arctic are hypothesized to be likely in the future.