Microwave diagnostic of ozone layer at the polar latitude

The ground-based microwave remote sounding of the upper atmosphere has been effective in investigations of atmospheric ozone and other small gas constituents performing at altitudes above 20 km (Connor et al, 1986 and 1987). The method of microwave sounding is based on observations of resonant lines of molecules with rotary spectra at millimeter and submillimeter wave bands. The microwave measurements depend less on weather conditions and atmospheric aerosol components in comparison to optical and infrared ones. The millimeter-wave spectral devices can register round the clock variations of stratospheric ozone with high temporal resolution. For physical understanding of problems in polar ozone, it is necessary to continue accumulation of the data about the behaviour of ozone at different high-altitude levels. It is necessary to note, that in altitude range from 20 up to 80 km, ozone and the associated family of small gas constituents are the least investigated. The microwave radiometry is capable of ensuring a long measuring series of O/sub 3/ at the necessary altitude intervals. In this paper, results are given for ground microwave observations of stratospheric ozone in polar latitudes.