Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Understanding polar atmospheric change using SCISAT  (Understanding polar atmospheric change using SCISAT)

Outline
SCISAT is an atmospheric research experiment funded by the Canadian Space Agency. The spacecraft was launched on August 13, 2003, to an altitude 650 km above Earth. The two scientific payloads of SCISAT are Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) and Measurements of Aerosol Extinction in the Stratosphere and Troposphere Retrieved by Occultation (MAESTRO). SCISAT uses the Sun-occultation techniques to measure the chemical compositions of trace species sensitive to the ozone cycle. The satellite has been functioning flawlessly since launch, and generated significant national and international attention for its data. The prestigious Geophyiscal Research Letters has given the SCISAT science team the privilege to publish a special collection of initial findings from the mission.The initial funding for SCISAT operation was two years after launch. Therefore, the mission, without additional financial authority from the Government of Canada, will cease operation by the end of FY 2005-6, at a time when the scientists just begin to master the art of using a novel atmospheric sounding technique and have identified several interesting problems with potential impact on ozone chemistry, for which we have little understanding. Since the spacecraft and its payloads are expected to function satisfactorily into the IPY timeframe, and given the obvious importance of the ozone question to Canada, we propose an extension of the SCISAT mission for two additional years (FY2006/7 to 2008/09) to give the Canadian Space Agency and Canadian atmospheric research community added potential for breakthrough understanding on ozone chemistry and its relationship to a number of natural and anthropogenic influences, especially those which have timescales of change over several years. The funding requested is mainly to support the operation of the SCISAT spacecraft and payloads, with a smaller amount aimed at research using SCISAT data. The latter amount could be dispensed through a competitive Announcement of Opportunity process to support the best and most promising research projects by Canadian scientists and their international partners to make the fullest exploitation of an outstanding set of atmospheric data. In this pre-proposal it is suggested that the management of this fund could be done by CSA Space Sciences although it could also be done through other science support mechanisms (NSERC, etc.).

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
1. The current state of ozone is a major concern to the polar environment.2. Scientific understanding achieved through this research will help better predict how ozone will change in the future (especially with a long-duration mission).3. Ozone depletion in the poles is a classical case of polar-global interactions, as CFC’s and other ozone-destroying chemicals are transported from lower latitude regions.4. Ozone research is frontier science. 5. Polar field campaigns will validate spaceborne observations.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The CSA is discussing a cooperative agreement with the European Space Agency on contributing additional ground station(s) to receive SCISAT data. This would be a significant in-kind contribution, and a tremendous addition to the mission. SciSat has already generated significant international collaboration as shown by the publications in the special issue of Geophysical Research Letters.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The Canadian atmospheric science community is proposing a ground-based Polar Environment and Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) based in Eureka. Ground validation of SCISAT is crucial, and two annual campaigns are anticipated.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: TBD (optimized by Science Team)            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
SCISAT Mission Operations Centre (a multi-purpose facility) in the CSA could be upgraded with new equipment and software to improve SCISAT performance.Ground-based validation campaign needs local infrastructure, and the costs will be covered by the PEARL Proposal to NSERC, CFCAS, and CFI. MSC provides significant in-kind contribution with the access of the Eureka Astrolab facility and weather station.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The upgraded CSA Mission Operations Centre will benefit many follow-on Canadian space missions for years to come, including ePOP (Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe)Once launched into orbit in early 2007, e-POP's eight scientific instruments will collect new data on space storms and associated plasma outflows in the upper atmosphere and their potentially devastating impacts on radio communications, GPS navigation, and other space-based technologies. Space storms (also called solar storms because these disturbances originate from the sun) generate huge electrical currents in the upper atmosphere's polar regions. The solar storms also produce the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
SciSat was built and is being operated by the Canadian Space Agency.

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?

The proposal is an extension of an existing activity, which will terminate before IPY if no funding is provided.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Project will be led by the Canadian Space Agency, through its Space Science Branch.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Under development.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
The Solar-Terrestrial and Atmospheric Science Division, CSA, which is the scientific authority for SCISAT, has a comprehensive data and assimilation initiative in partnership with Universities of Toronto and Alberta, with access to Canada’s most advanced high-performance computing and online data management facilities. SCISAT data will be an integral input to this initiative.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We request a new funding of $8 M to support this initiative, with the following breakdown:1. $ 5 M, mission operation costs of SCISAT for 2 additional years2. $ 1 M to upgrade CSA SCISAT MOC3. $ 1 M to support 2 ground validation campaigns and associated research4. $ 1 M to support data assimilation and modeling and other value-added initiative to maximize the benefit of SCISAT and similar atmospheric data (e.g., OSIRIS)Note that items 3 and 4 could be managed by CSA or by other federal science support organizations.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Director Réjean Michaud
6767 route de l'Aéroport
St-Hubert
Qc
J3Y 8Y9

Tel: 450-926-4760
Mobile: 514 578 4773
Fax:
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information