Unusual Ozone Concentration Over North Bay of Bengal

Recently, scientists have detected an unusually high concentration of ozone in the upper atmosphere over the North Bay of Bengal. This unexpected finding is helping researchers better understand how air currents transport ozone through the stratosphere.

Key Points

Research Campaign: The study was conducted under the Phase-I NetRAD-ASMA campaign, which brought together Indian research institutions to study atmospheric processes.
Observation Network: Researchers used data from atmospheric radars, weather balloons, satellites and advanced atmospheric models to investigate the unusual ozone event.
Radar Observations: The indigenously developed 206.5 MHz Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar at Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES, Nainital), collected observations along with radars at Haringhata, Gadanki and Kochi.
Satellite Confirmation: Observations from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder satellite and INSAT-3DR independently confirmed the unusual ozone structure.