An analysis of preliminary SAGE II data on ozone and NO2

Zonal mean mixing ratios of ozone and NO₂ measured by SAGE II on several days in March and April, 1985 are compared against zonal means for this time of year previously measured by SAGE I, SBUV, and LIMS. After allowing for calculated diurnal variations of these gases, agreement within 15% is found for ozone and 20% for NO₂. It is noted that the profile error bars given on the SAGE II data tapes need to be carefully interpreted and that the measured tropical variances suggest that these error bars are being somewhat overestimated. Planetary waves in both ozone and NO₂ in the middle stratosphere should be derivable from the SAGE II measurements.