Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Inter-continental Transport and Chemical Transformation of pollutants over the Arctic region  (ITCT-Arctic (AICI-IPY))

Outline
This activity proposes a coordinated programme of measurements and modelling to quantify the radiative impact of trace gases and aerosols transported to the Arctic and their possible contribution to pollutant deposition in the region. Two multi-aircraft campaigns are planned for winter/spring 2007/8 and summer 2008 to investigate processes responsible for long-range transport of trace gases and aerosols into/out of the Arctic region. These will be complemented by extensive use of satellite data, ground-based lidars, Lagrangian balloons and surface measurements. The summer campaign will focus on the transport of pollution from boreal forest fires to the Arctic troposphere and lower stratosphere. Years of strong burning in the boreal forest correlate with years of strong melting of Arctic sea ice and there may exist a link through the deposition of soot from the forest fires onto the ice, which decreases surface albedo. For example, extreme pyro-convective events in Alaska/ Canada in 1990/1998 spread soot over vast reaches of Canadian tundra, Greenland, and the Arctic Ocean and transported aerosols into the polar stratosphere. The winter/spring campaign will target transport of anthropogenic pollution, in particular from Eurasia, to the Arctic, exploring its chemical evolution, contribution to Arctic Haze, and interaction with boundary layer processes such as halogen formation, ozone loss and pollutant deposition to ice/snow. Pollutant transport out of the Arctic will also be investigated, including quantification of the contribution of Arctic Haze breakdown to the springtime ozone maximum. This activity builds on previous initiatives (e.g., TOPSE, ABLE-3) and on experience gained in co-ordination of multi-platform research field programmes (e.g. IGAC/ICARTT Lagrangian 2K4). Aircraft will be equipped to measure oxidants (O3, PAN), aerosols (e.g. soot, SO4, NO3), their precursors (e.g. HOx, NOx, VOCs, SO2) and ozone/aerosol profiles using airborne lidars. Multi-wavelength sunphotometric measurements of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and water vapour columns will characterize the radiative properties of forest fire plumes. Aircraft will be based close to the source regions and in the Arctic with the aim to sample the same air mass more than once in order to quantify chemical transformation and loss processes occurring during transport. Lagrangian balloons will provide meteorological information to guide the campaigns and measure in-situ heating rates. New technologies using un-piloted vehicles to investigate remote regions and airborne measurements of mercury and POPs will be explored.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The activity will provide valuable trace gas and aerosol data in the Arctic troposphere (theme 1). Improved understanding of processes governing pollutant transport and transformation will also aid interpretation of surface and cryosphere data. Analysis of this data together with ground-based and satellite data using chemistry-aerosol-climate models will lead to improved understanding of processes influencing deposition of compounds and radiative forcing/climate impacts in the Arctic region on seasonal and multi-annual timescales (theme 2). The study will also investigate the linkages between climate change and variability (e.g., the NAO) and the occurrence of forest fires and transport of emissions into the Arctic troposphere and lower stratosphere (theme 3/theme 4).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
ITCT-Arctic is part of AICI-IPY coordinating research on atmospheric composition. AICI is endorsed by IGAC & SOLAS. It is envisaged that ITCT-Arctic will become a new task within IGAC (joint ITCT-AICI). Links with other relevant projects are being developed (e.g. YAK-AEROSIB-Russia, OASIS, ATMOPOL). Several dozen institutions from Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, UK, USA are involved.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
ITCT-Arctic aims to trace chemical evolution of polluted air masses from the mid-latitudes into and within the Arctic region using aircraft located both at mid-latitudes and in the Arctic. Flight bases (still to be determined) will be co-ordinated with other IPY activities; possible Arctic locations are: Summit, Spitzbergen, Churchill, northern Russia.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 11/07– 04/08      07/08– 08/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Main logistic support requirements are facilities to house and deploy multiple aircraft. The field campaigns will be supported by the extensive use of satellite data, meteorological/chemical forecasts. Products can be shared with other projects and will be available throughout the IPY period. Space may be available on aircraft for measurements proposed by other IPY activities.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
ITCT-Arctic will produce validated and improved satellite retrievals (aerosols, trace gases) that are currently highly uncertain over the Arctic (low solar elevation, high surface albedo). It will increase process-level knowledge and, thus, will lead to improved predictions of climate and air pollution impacts. It will also inform policy makers and will help to refine protocols (e.g. CLRTAP, Kyoto).

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
National agency
Own support

The consortium has much experience in co-ordinating international multi-platform campaigns involving several aircraft (e.g., 12 aircraft in the recent ICARTT campaign). Many institutions operate their own aircraft so that, subject to funding, access to these aircraft is guaranteed. A central hub will be set up involving all groups (forecasters, satellite, aircraft) to coordinate the field activities.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
ITCT-Arctic is part of the AICI-IPY umbrella project endorsed by IGBP-IGAC and SOLAS. It is envisaged that ITCT-Arctic will be endorsed as a new IGAC task jointly under AICI and ITCT. It also has endorsement from the EU funded FP6 ACCENT network activity.

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?
Exp

This new project is part of the AICI-IPY umbrella submission and builds on work carried out within IGAC on long-range transport of pollutants over the last decade.

How will the project be organised and managed?
It is planned that this project will be managed as an IGAC task by its own international Steering Committee within the IGAC framework. The committee will be made up of key partners as well as independent experts. It will have a fully developed implementation and data management plan and be subject to the regular scrutiny of the IGAC Steering Committee. As an IGAC task it will have a well-defined timetable for field activities (2007/8), data submission (T+6) and analysis (T+6-18), ending at a prescribed time with publication of results (e.g. T+18, end-2009).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Proposed participants have a good record in communicating results to the public (e.g. NASA, DLR) and making new results quickly available to the media. The project will make use of facilities being developed related to e-learning, particularly for undergraduates, and provision of results via the web (portal of EU ACCENT network).

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The proposers have a strong record in submitting data in a common format to existing national data centres (e.g. NILU, BADC) that can then be accessed by all interested parties in the project after a short time (e.g. 6-9 months). After a defined period (e.g. 18 months/2 years) the data will be made public.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funds will be sought from national agencies (e.g. NASA, CNRS, Norges forskningsråd, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, etc.). It is planned to submit a proposal to EU FP VI under the Global Change priority.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
ITCT-Arctic collaborates with other proposed IPY activities, both on a scientific level and on education and outreach. This includes those activities focusing on surface processes/chemistry (e.g. OASIS, ATMOPOL) and studies of the stratospheric ozone layer (e.g. SPARC EoI).

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Andreas Stohl
Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU)
Instituttveien 18, N-2027 Kjeller
P.O. Box 100
2027
Norway

Tel: +47 6389 8035
Mobile: no
Fax: +47 6389 8050
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation