Earth System Research Laboratory Ozone Water Vapor Group Dobson Ozone Measurements

The Ozone and Water Vapor Group is part of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) in Boulder, CO. The Ozone Water Vapor Group conducts research on the nature and causes of the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer and the role of stratospheric and tropospheric ozone and water vapor in forcing climate change and in modifying the chemical cleaning capacity of the atmosphere. This is accomplished through long-term observations and intensive field programs that measure ozone and water vapor levels in the upper troposphere and stratosphere. The Reference Network used by the Ozone and Water Vapor Group is part of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, CO. The measurement programs include Total Column Ozone Measurements (Dobson Ozone), Surface Ozone Measurements, Ozonesonde Measurements using balloons, and Water Vapor measurements using balloons.

The Dobson Ozone Spectrophotometer has been used to study total ozone since it was developed in the 1920's. Total ozone is the total amount of ozone in a column from the surface to the edge of the atmosphere. The use of the Dobson Ozone Spectrophotometer is important to the global effort to understand the role of stratospheric ozone in atmospheric chemistry, biological and ecological effects of solar UV radiation, climate and weather. ESRL Global Monitoring Division maintains stations around the world that use the Dobson Ozone spectrophotometer. These stations are located in American Samoa, Antarctica, Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia). They are also the World Dobson Ozone Calibration Centre, responsible for the calibration of over 100 instruments worldwide.