Scientists discover unusual ozone layer over Bay of Bengal

Scientists have identified an unusually thick and low-altitude ozone layer over the North Bay of Bengal. While the ozone layer typically peaks at altitudes between 25 and 30 km, researchers discovered a concentrated pocket between 21 and 23 km during the winter months.

The discovery was made during the NetRAD-ASMA campaign, a collaborative effort involving atmospheric radars, weather balloons, and satellite observations from Aura MLS and INSAT-3DR. Data from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital, along with radars in Haringhata, Gadanki, and Kochi, confirmed the presence of this sporadic structure.

The ozone abnormality persisted for more than a day and remained stable through both daytime and nighttime, suggesting that sunlight-driven photochemical reactions were not the primary cause. Researchers identified downward air motion in the lower stratosphere as a key process that compressed ozone-rich air to form the layer.