Ozone Variation Revealed by the Satellite-borne Instrument of Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS)

Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) was first launched on board the NIMBUS 7 satellite in November 1978. TOMS measured the global distribution of total ozone every one day. This first TOMS was a very long lived instrument which continued its observation for about 14.5 years through May 6, 1993. The name of TOMS became well known when the ozone hole, severe ozone depletion during the Antarctic spring, was discovered. The TOMS data showed clearly not only the extent of ozone hole area over the Antarctica but also the development of ozone hole with time since the early 80's. After the NIMBUS 7/TOMS stopping its operation, Meteor 3/TOMS, ADEOS/TOMS succeeded the total ozone observation from the space and now the Earth Probe/TOMS has been operated in the orbit. Daily total ozone mapping data by TOMS is very useful not only to study the atmospheric ozone and also to learn the dynamic behavior of the Earth's atmosphere.