Differential responses of total ozone content to solar activity parameters at two Saudi Arabian locations

Abstract

This study examines the correlations between Total Ozone Content (TOC) at two locations in Saudi Arabia—Abha and Jeddah—and various solar activity indicators (sunspot numbers, solar radio flux) and cosmic rays, using data spanning from 1979 to 2023. The research employs correlation analyses and spectral techniques, such as Fast Fourier Transform and wavelet analysis, to explore these relationships.

The results reveal significant non-zero correlations between changes in TOC at both Saudi sites and the studied solar activity indicators and cosmic rays, with these correlations varying in strength and significance across different solar cycles and seasons.

Spectral analysis suggests the presence of several periodicities in the TOC data from both sites, including cycles of 3.9 years, 2.63 years, 1.65 years, 1.1–1.2 years, 325 days (∼0.88 years), 285–293 days (∼0.78–0.80 years), 273 days (∼0.75 years), 249-232 days (∼0.68 years), and 202-188 days (∼0.52 years). Notable shared periodicities between TOC and solar activity and cosmic rays data include ∼2.6 years, 3.8–3.9 years, 1.56 years, 325 days, 273 days, and 166 days.

The findings from both correlation and spectral analyses suggest a potential connection between variations in TOC and solar activity at the specific locations studied. This aligns with previous research indicating that increased UV radiation during periods of high solar activity enhances ozone production, particularly at lower latitudes, and that increased magnetic activity reduces the influx of cosmic rays into the heliosphere, impacting atmospheric ionization.