Stratospheric responses to solar ultraviolet variations: Comparisons with photochemical models

At latitudes and altitudes where transport effects on ozone mixing ratio can be neglected, ozone and temperature responses to short‐term changes in solar ultraviolet flux can be used to calculate implied bounds on two basic photochemical parameters: the odd oxygen photochemical relaxation time and the chemical sensitivity of odd oxygen to local temperature changes. Seasonally averaged values of these parameters are derived from response measurements and are compared with model calculations between 0.7 and 4 mbar at tropical latitudes. Results are in agreement within measurement and model uncertainties at all pressure levels. Model values of mean ozone and of the response of ozone to perturbations are functions of the same photochemical data. Therefore this agreement provides a constraint which should be considered when changes are proposed in model input data for the purpose of improving agreement between measured and calculated high‐altitude ozone.