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Global Monitoring Laboratory Ozone Water Vapor Group Dobson Ozone Measurements

Published by DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 1957-12-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
The Ozone and Water Vapor Group is part of NOAA's Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) in Boulder, CO. The Ozone Water Vapor Group conducts research on the nature and causes of the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer and the role of stratospheric and tropospheric ozone and water vapor in forcing climate change and in modifying the chemical cleaning capacity of the atmosphere. This is accomplished through long-term observations and intensive field programs that measure ozone and water vapor levels in the upper troposphere and stratosphere. The Reference Network used by the Ozone and Water Vapor Group is also part of NOAA's GML. The measurement programs include Total Column Ozone Measurements (Dobson Ozone), Surface Ozone Measurements, Ozonesonde Measurements using balloons, and Water Vapor measurements using balloons. The Dobson Ozone Spectrophotometer has been used to study total ozone since it was developed in the 1920's. Total ozone is the total amount of ozone in a column from the surface to the edge of the atmosphere. The use of the Dobson Ozone Spectrophotometer is important to the global effort to understand the role of stratospheric ozone in atmospheric chemistry, biological and ecological effects of solar UV radiation, climate and weather. NOAA's Global Monitoring Laboratory maintains stations around the world that use the Dobson Ozone spectrophotometer. These stations are located in American Samoa, Antarctica, Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia). They are also the World Dobson Ozone Calibration Centre, responsible for the calibration of over 100 instruments worldwide.

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Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Oxygen Compounds > Ozone Atmospheric - Composition - Ozone Continent > North America > United States Of America > North Dakota Continent > North America > United States Of America > Colorado Continent > North America > United States Of America > Tennessee Continent > North America > United States Of America > Alaska Continent > North America > United States Of America > Maine Continent > North America > United States Of America > California Continent > South America > Peru Continent > Australia/New Zealand > New Zealand Continent > North America > United States Of America > Hawaii Continent > Europe > Western Europe > France Continent > Australia/New Zealand > Australia Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > American Samoa Continent > Antarctica Continent > North America > United States Of America > Florida Continent > North America > United States Of America > Virginia Vertical Location > Land Surface ESRL > Earth System Research Laboratory (NOAA) DOBSON SPECTROPHOTOMETERS ESRL STATIONS > NOAA Earth Science Research Laboratory Stations AIR MONITORING STATIONS/NETWORKS Point Resolution Point Resolution Hourly - < Daily DOC/NOAA/ESRL/GMD > Global Monitoring Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce STRATOSPHERIC OZONE TOTAL COLUMN OZONE TOTAL OZONE COLUMN

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