Environment Canada
The total ozone maps are based on ground-based measurements
available from the World
Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre. Preliminary near real-time data
from ground-based observations were also used for the most recent maps. Total
ozone values are given in
Dobson Units. The numbers represent observations taken from ground stations
situated at the bottom left corner of the number.
Maps of deviations represent total ozone deviations from the
1978-1988 level estimated using Total
Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data for all areas except the Antarctic
and from the pre-1980 level estimated using Dobson data over the Antarctic.
Over areas with poor data coverage adjustments are made
according to TOMS on Nimbus-7,
Meteor-3, ADEOS and Earth Probe satellites. Over the polar night area Dobson and
Brewer moon observations and/or
NOAA's TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) satellite data are used.
TOVS data are also used when the more reliable TOMS data are not available. The
mapping algorithm is similar to those used by the
WMO Ozone Mapping Centre.
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