Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Polar clouds and the ozone layer in changing climate.  (PSC&Cirrus)

Outline
The project aims at providing new scientific knowledge on the evolution of ozone and clouds in the polar stratosphere and upper troposphere in a changing climate. Recovery of the ozone layer will take place in a future climate, dependent on the evolution of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs), temperature, atmospheric circulation, and trace gas concentrations (such as CFCs and water). PSCs are known to initiate ozone depletion through heterogeneous reactions and enhance ozone depletion through removal of nitric acid (denitrification) by cloud sedimentation. Measurements have established close correlations between chemical ozone depletion and temperatures sufficiently low for the formation of PSCs. However, current models cannot represent the observed severe ozone depletion in past cold Arctic winters. The major uncertainty lies in our understanding of the formation of vast PSC fields containing large solid PSC particles, which are particularly important for denitrification. How do these solid PSCs form? Are there specific nuclei in the stratosphere, on which PSCs nucleate? The project aims at enhancing our ability to predict the evolution of PSC occurrence, denitrification, ozone depletion, and thereby levels of harmful UV radiation in a scenario of climate change. Ice particles exists not only in PSCs (~ 20 km), but also in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS, 8-12 km). These cirrus cloud particles absorb infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface, thereby heating the UTLS and isolating the entire polar troposphere against extreme cooling down. However, a detailed characterisation of polar cirrus clouds and ice residues is missing and an improved understanding of ice formation in the polar UTLS region is required. In addition, the size, concentration, and composition of cirrus particles influence their radiative and chemical properties. Despite of polar cirrus cloud coverage of up to 15 %, little is known on radiative effects and heterogeneous processes of cirrus clouds in polar regions. Do cirrus clouds have an impact on climate and atmospheric chemistry and dynamics? Can we quantify polar stratosphere-troposphere exchange and related transport processes? These questions related to particle characterisation in the changing polar atmosphere and solid particle formation, with special emphasis on cloud condensation nuclei, the possible role of meteoritic or mineral dust or organic components, and measurement of large nitric acid particles will be addressed experimentally in a major Arctic field campaign in cooperation with modelling activities. The campaign will take place at Spitsbergen, where the polar vortex contains the coldest air and largest PSC fields in the Arctic. Spitsbergen offers itself as a new and unique centre for a major European/US/Russian campaign with possibilities to direct aircraft into PSC and UTLS ice cloud areas from Greenland across the North Atlantic to the Scandinavian region. Chemical, microphysical, and optical properties of polar particles and gas phase species will be obtained in-situ and remotely from the high altitude research aircraft Geophysica, the DLR-Falcon, the SAF-LearJet, and stratospheric balloons. Complementary particle information will be gained from the NDSC research stations at Thule and Kangerlussuaq (Greenland), Ny Ålesund (Spitsbergen), Alomar (Norway), Kiruna (Sweden), and Sodankylä (Finland). Satellite data (e.g. Envisat, Aura) will additionally be used to determine the occurrence, extension, radiative properties of cirrus clouds and PSCs. Trace gas measurements from aircraft, balloons, and satellite will additionally be used to characterise the particle properties and denitrification and to quantify polar stratosphere-troposphere exchange. A comprehensive set of microphysical box models to test the mechanism of nucleation to global 3D chemical transport models with detailed cloud schemes to test the impact of different PSC or cirrus treatments on ozone depletion will be applied. Integration of field data and process studies within a modelling framework will enable predictions of the radiative properties of polar cirrus clouds and the future evolution of the ozone layer as well as the potential feedback on the future polar climate.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project contributes to an understanding of the current state of the ozone layer (Theme #1) and contributes to improved understanding of key process responsible for ozone depletion and radiative forcing from polar cirrus, increasing our ability to predict the future state of the ozone layer, future levels of UV radiation, and polar climate change (#2). As a complement to the SCOUT-O3 project, the global links between tropical, mid-latitude and polar processes are investigated (#3), placing itself at the frontier of UTLS research (#4). The project takes advantage of established polar research infrastructures to address the global environmental problems of ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change (#5) which is of particular concern for Arctic societies (#6).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Closely associated and managed together with the EU-project SCOUT-O3. Involving three aircraft and stratospheric balloons together with ground-based measurements at the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC)-stations at Spitsbergen, in Greenland, and Scandinavia. Directly involving 25 research institutes from Germany, Italy, UK, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Russia, and USA. Collaboration with other stratospheric ozone and UV IPY-initiatives is planned. Strong links exist with the objectives and activities proposed within the IPY projects LOLITA-PSC and M-55 Geophysica/ Antarctic UTLS.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The airport at Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, as a unique centre for aircraft operations to Greenland and Scandinavia and for local balloon launches at the cold pool of the Arctic vortex. Including groundbased measurements from the local NDSC station at Ny Ålesund and four other NDSC stations in Greenland and the Scandinavian region.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 11/07 – 02/08      11/08 – 02/09      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Some aircraft operations from the airport at Longyearbyen will probably require larger hangar capacities which could be shared by other IPY projects. Local helicopter required for balloon-instrument recovery. No significant additional logistic requirements for local balloon launches and groundbased observations at the NDSC stations at Ny Ålesund, in Greenland, and the Scandinavian region.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Enhanced hangar and other airport facilities at Longyearbyen will be beneficial to future Arctic research, based on aircraft, also beyond the IPY. There is easy access from northern Europe and Russia to Spitsbergen, yet Longyearbyen is located almost 80° north which is unique in the world. The proposed campaign could demonstrate Longyearbyen as a new long-term observing platform with technical capabilities not found at such high latitudes anywhere else. The campaign will also serve to guide the strategy for future deployment of satellite observations of the polar atmosphere.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

The operation of the Geophysica aircraft out of Longyearbyen is not mandatory for the completion of the project although highly desirable. Alternative airports located in Greenland and the Scandinavian region. Except for operation of the helicopter for instrument recovery and supply of balloon gas, all other operations can be handled by the aircraft operation teams, the staff at the NDSC stations, and scientists/technicians in the project.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This project is endorsed by the International Ozone Commission, by the co-chairs of the NDSC, and by the coordinator of the EU-funded project SCOUT-O3. The EoI has also been endorsed, or is in the process of being endorsed by national committees for IPY, while other national committees cannot issue endorsements to individual projects. According to some national rules, this EoI will also be sent through national IPY committees to the international IPY committee.

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?
Expansion
The project complements the European Commission funded Integrated Project Stratosphere-Climate Links With Emphasis On The UTLS (SCOUT-O3) which mainly focuses on chemical-, cloud-, and transport-processes in the tropical upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) and the influence on the ozone layer at mid-latitudes, including the pole ward transport of water vapour.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be managed by a science board with members from each of the participating institutes. The coordinator and several of the science board members will be represented in the Executive Committee of SCOUT-O3. The project will take advantage of the SCOUT-O3 management structure including its science planning, workshops and conferences, data management, and public outreach. Together the two projects will constitute the current most comprehensive scientific effort for investigations of process influencing the ozone layer at a global scale reaching from the tropics over mid-latitudes to the poles.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
PhD students and post-doc positions associated with project. Collaboration with the local university and organisation of a conference at Svalbard will be considered. The project will be presented on the Internet, and news media will be invited during campaign activities and open-day arrangements. Results from the project will be published in open scientific journals and presented at international conferences.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data management, data protocol, and data storage as for SCOUT-O3 (including data storage at the NILU database). Additional groundbased observational data will stored at the NDSC database, and ozone data also submitted to the WMO WOUDC data base.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Nationally funded, but many project partners also involved in SCOUT-O3.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Niels Larsen
Lyngbyvej 100
Copenhagen
DK-2100
Denmark

Tel: +45-3915-7414
Mobile: +45-2331-3258
Fax: +45-3915-7460
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information