Long term temporal trends and spatial distribution of total ozone over Pakistan

Considering the potential importance of the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere and threat to its depletion in Pakistan’s environment, AQUA-AIRS Level-3 Daily Global satellite data is used to monitor the Total Column Ozone (TCO) over the entire region of the country. During 2003–2011 with spatial resolution of 1ox 1o lat/long grid, inter-annual analysis of TCO over the area (62°-76°E and 23°-37°N) showed that overall average distribution of TCO alterations are dependent on latitude and varied from 275 to 278 DU in the regions of Sindh and Baluchistan province with 297–300 DU in the northern and KPK province regions. Seasonal variations have shown that in the region 23°-29°N, highest concentration of ozone is recorded in summer season (JJA) and lowest in winter season (DJF) with mixed trend in both spring (MAM) and autumn (SON) seasons whereas in the region between 30°-37°N, maximum is recorded in winter (DJF) and spring (MAM) seasons with minimum in summer (JJA) and autumn (SON) seasons respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that linear relationship exists between year to year TCO and solar activity.