Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

International Arctic System for Observing the Atmosphere  (IASOA)

Outline
To adequately monitor and understand the global climate and processes, a necessary component is the development and uninterrupted support of a system of strategically located, long-term Atmospheric Observatories. In addition to the routine measurements made at meteorological stations and more densely distributed networks, these Observatories are/will be designed to make intensive measurements at the surface and through the depth of the atmosphere. Measured quantities can include (but are not limited to) solar radiation, aerosols, air chemistry, trace gases, cloud properties, water vapour, ozone, temperatures, winds, surface albedo and stratospheric properties. The continuous surface-based measurements will be considerably enhanced by regular 4 times/year deployments of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs that will use dropwinsondes to measure atmospheric state over the Observatories and at strategic locations over the Arctic Ocean between the Observatories. At present, a number of uncoordinated programs are in varying stages of developing Atmospheric Observatories. It is the objective of the IASOA Program to coordinate these efforts for the IPY and beyond. At present, preliminary discussions on the Arctic Skies project has commenced between the United States Canada, Russia, Norway, and Finland. Existing and proposed programs include: 1. Existing long term trace gas, aerosol, solar radiation, ozone, cloud properties, and meteorological observations in Barrow, Alaska -U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory Baseline Observatory (1973) and U.S. Department of Energy, Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) facilities (1997). 2. The Polar Environmental Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) in Eureka, Canada - operations to be established in 2005 and 2006 and the Alert Baseline Station (1986) -The Canadian Detection of Arctic Change (CANDAC) program, Meteorological Services Canada, (MSC) and the U.S. NOAA Studies of Environmental Arctic Change SEARCH program. 3. Upgrade of the Norwegian Ny-Alesund Observatory (1990) to a full service Meteorological/Geophysical Laboratory - Norwegian Meteorological Institute (NMI), the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) and University Studies in Svalbard, and Norwegian Institute for Air Studies (NIAS). 4. The new Chinese Yellow River (Huanghe) Arctic Research Station opened in 2004 on Svalbard -Polar Research Institute of China. 5. A possible upgraded meteorological station/atmospheric observatory in Tiksi, Russia in 2007 or 2008 -The Russian Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Rosydromet, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), and NOAA. 6. The Greenland Summit Station – Additional atmospheric measurement capabilities and a possible NOAA on-site staff position to facilitate upgrading the capabilities of this new Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station (2004). 7. The Pallas, Finland Sodankyla GAW Station – Finish Meteorological Institute (1994) 8. The NOAA High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV program scheduled to test operations over the Arctic Ocean in 2008.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The IASOA program is expected to contribute to IPY Themes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 through intensive monitoring and direct observations of change in the Arctic environment with innovative but established technologies. This goal will be implemented through a set of matched measurements made simultaneously in markedly different Arctic Basin regions. These measurements will be of sufficient detail to contribute to atmospheric process studies, improved model parameterizations and satellite validation. Emphasis will be on relating cloud, radiation, aerosol, chemistry, and meteorological changes from the lower boundary layer through the troposphere and into the stratosphere/ionosphere. It is expected that the Arctic Skies program will result in a legacy of well calibrated Atmospheric Observatory measurements for decades into the future that will provide continuous, key atmospheric data sets for monitoring and understanding Arctic and global climate changes.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
At present, partners include the United States Canada, Russia, Norway, Finland and China. The Observatories will contribute to a number of international network observing programs including the Baseline Surface Radiation Networks (BSRN), Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), the Climate Reference Network (CRN), ArcticNET, the Global Earth Observing Science System (GEOSS) , the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the US SEARCH (Study of Environmental Arctic Change) program.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The Arctic Observatories will circle the Arctic in a number of distinct Arctic regions including: 1) Barrow, Alaska, USA (Bering Strait and Pacific Influences) 2) Eureka/Alert, Nunavut, Canada (The Canadian Archipelago) 3) Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (Arctic Ocean/Fram Strait) 4) Summit Station, Greenland 5) Tiksi, Russia (Siberia) 6) Pallas, Finland HALE UAV observations (and proposed aircraft programs) will link the land station observations to atmospheric observations made during transects over the Arctic Ocean.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Start - 01/2005 No End Date            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The Atmospheric Observatories will require housing facilities, power, communications and transportation infrastructures that will facilitate year-round access and on-site support for a suite of instruments requiring high-level technical support and operations. Existing facilities will be enhanced and utilized.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The IASOA project is anticipated to result in the establishment of 2 new, long-term, permanent Atmospheric Observatories (Eureka/Alert and Tiksi) and provide political and scientific support/enhancements for 4 (Summit, Barrow, and Ny-Alesund, Pallas) Arctic station/observatories presently in operation. Most of the Observatory sites already contain facilities with support capabilities for other biological and earth science projects. Cooperative, interdisciplinary infrastructures will be encouraged and supported when and where possible.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
National agency
Military support
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

A wide range of logistic paths will be pursued depending on the location of each Observatory and supporting countries. For instance, National agencies (DOE and NOAA) support operations in Barrow, Alaska. The Canadian sites are supported by the Meteorological Services Canada as well as by the Canadian Armed Forces. The Greenland Summit Station receives support from the National Science Foundation, Danish and Greenland governments, and the European Union.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The IASOA project has been endorsed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and coordinated with the Canadian and Norwegian National IPY committees.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New
This program will integrate a number of Nationally supported programs as well as a new proposals and initiatives that are presently in progress. While utilizing a number of existing and planned activities this formalized International collaboration is a new development.

How will the project be organised and managed?
For each of the individual programs (6 Observatories, HALE/UAV) and 7 member countries a representative to Arctic Skies will be identified. The IASOA operations board will establish a schedule of annual meetings to investigate the potential for cooperation.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The Arctic Skies Program will utilize NOAA and MSC outreach programs to raise public awareness of Arctic research issues. In addition, the CANDAC/PEARL program is a university based program that will utilize the Eureka Observatory as a teaching and training facility. There will be opportunities for International student exchanges.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
IASOA will follow the IPY 2007-2008 data and information management policy, and utilize NOAA, MSC, CANDAC, BSRN, GAW, NSIDC and other program data management frameworks as appropriate.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
A substantial amount of existing funding is in place from NOAA, NSF, DOE, MSC CANDAC, PRIC, NMI, NPI, FMI and others. New funding is presently being proposed for Russian operations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This program is being coordinated with a number of other IPY EOIs concerning ingest of data into models, satellite observing systems, and Arctic Ocean field programs with atmospheric sensors on icebreakers.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ms Taneil Uttal
R/E/ET6
325 Broadway
Boulder, Colorado
80305
USA

Tel: 303 497 6409
Mobile: 720 841 4335
Fax: 303 497 6181
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information