Using Kriging and 3-D Graphics To Explore Trends of Total Column Ozone Amount and Tropospheric Weather Systems in Central America from 1995 to 2000

• Activity Number: 157
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 7, 2006 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Graphics
• Author(s): Kening Wang*+ and Charles Stegman and Sean W. Mulvenon and Yanling Xia
• Companies: University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas
• Keywords: graphics ; map ; ozone ; Central America

Abstract

In this study, prediction maps of ozone and surface temperature were generated using kriging. Bar charts of air pressure, cloud coverage, and elevation also were plotted on the maps. 3-D graphics were created using PowerPoint. All the graphics were able to be visualized through a web-based interactive system. Ozone exhibits strong seasonality and latitude dependence. Interannual ozone variability is also present. Ozone amounts in the tropics are rather low, with the lowest in winter and the highest in summer. In the northern region, ozone amounts are high in spring, decrease in summer and fall, and rise again in winter. Like ozone, temperature also varies seasonally with latitude, but no direct relationship with ozone is observed. Cloud coverage variability depends on region and season. Air pressure is generally consistent, and it mainly changes with elevation.