Ozone and temperature profiles over Mcmurdo Station Antarctica in the spring of 1989

Ozone and temperature were measured in 39 balloon soundings at McMurdo station Antarctica (78°S) in the spring of 1989. Compared to 1986 and 1988 the stratosphere was colder and ozone depletion worse. Compared to 1987 the stratosphere warmed earlier but ozone depletion was similar, both in the magnitude and rate of depletion. Within regions of the atmosphere in 1989 ozone depletion was between 80 and 98% complete. This was again similar to 1987 and suggests that conditions observed in 1987 exceeded the minimum required for rapid and complete ozone depletion. As in previous years ozone was destroyed primarily between 12 and 20 km and there were several short periods, < 5 days, when rapid depletion was observed.