Observations of large stratospheric ozone variations over Mendoza, Argentina

Abstract. Since November 1993 up to present from Benegas Station, Mendoza, Argentina (site of IEMA Institute) and from high locations in the Andes region, ground based radiometric measurements of stratospheric ozone and tropospheric water vapor have been achieved. Ozone measurements are performed by using a radiometer-spectrometer tuned at 142 GHz and tropospheric water vapor by means of a 92 GHz radiometer. In this paper two case studies of large stratospheric ozone variations due to dynamical processes will be presented. These processes are very likely associated to gravity waves, generated by airflow over the Andes Mountains, or due to Zonda wind effect.