Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #3: Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment, ACE  (ACE)

Outline
The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment, ACE, also known as the SCISAT-1, is a Canadian satellite mission for remote sensing of the Earth’s atmosphere. It was launched into low Earth orbit on August 12, 2003. The primary instrument onboard ACE is a high spectral resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) operating from 2.2 to 13.3 microns. The satellite also features a dual spectrograph known as MAESTRO with wavelength coverage of 285-1030 nm and spectral resolution of 1-2 nm. A pair of filtered CMOS detector arrays takes images of the Sun at 0.525 and 1.02 microns. Working primarily in solar occultation, the satellite provides altitude profile information for temperature, pressure, and the volume mixing ratios for several dozen molecules of atmospheric interest, as well as atmospheric extinction profiles. The scientific goals for ACE include: (1)understanding the chemical and dynamical processes that control the distribution of ozone in the stratosphere and upper troposphere, with a particular emphasis on the Arctic; (2)exploring the relationship between atmospheric chemistry and climate change; (3)studying the effects of biomass burning in the free troposphere; and (4)measuring aerosols to reduce the uncertainties in their effects on the global energy balance. Since the end of commissioning in Feb. 2004, ACE has been making routine atmospheric measurements. There are about 30 occultations (sunrises and sunsets) per day and our particular orbit has been optimized to give excellent coverage of the polar regions, while still providing modest coverage of the midlatitudes and the tropics for comparison purposes. We are limited by the data downlink capacity and currently record only about half of the possible occultations. As part of the International Polar Year, we propose to make a focused effort to monitor the Arctic and Antarctic atmosphere. This would entail recording all possible polar occultations and coordinating our activities with those of other satellites as well as with those of ground-based atmospheric observers.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
ACE will make baseline measurements on atmospheric constituents during IPY. Our FTS instrument is conceptually similar to a retired NASA instrument called ATMOS, which flew on the Space Shuttle in 1985, 1992, 1993 and 1994. We can thus monitor atmospheric climate change over a 27 year period. As we also make measurements in midlatitudes and the tropics, we can see the interaction of the polar regions with the rest of the atmosphere. The ACE mission is unique so we expect to make new discoveries about the polar regions. ACE also looks at the Sun and will lead to a much improved infrared solar spectrum.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The ACE mission has international participation from scientists in the United States, Belgium, France, Sweden and Japan. They are from universities, government laboratories operated for example by NASA and Environment Canada and private companies.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
ACE is in low earth orbit, but we will co-ordinate our activities with, for example, measurements made in Meteorological Service of Canada’s (MSC’s) ASTRO observatory in Eureka.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Satellites, observatories and existing field stations.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
We will leave a unique data set on polar atmospheric composition.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

We anticipate that the majority of the support will come from the Canadian Space Agency with some support from the Meteorological Service of Canada and perhaps NSERC.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions willl integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Changing Chemistry in Polar Regions: Processes controlling the pathways of contaminants into the Arctic We are currently funded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) until the August of 2005, but we hope to obtain support for ACE for additional time so that participation in IPY is possible.

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?
yes

The ACE satellite mission is already operational, but not yet funded for the 2006-2007 time period.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Much the same as now but with additional interfaces to other IPY activities.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We will be training the next generation of atmospheric scientists interested in polar research. CSA has already created an education kit for ACE, and these activities could be augmented to include IPY-related information.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
At the moment, the ACE science data center is at the University of Waterloo. We are still developing our data products and our data distribution procedures. By the summer of 2005, the ACE data management procedures should be established so providing support for the IPY participants in 2006-2007 should not be a problem.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We anticipate that CSA will continue to provide support for routine operation of the satellite at both the Science Operations Center (Waterloo) and the Mission Operation’s Center (St. Hubert). Funding for the Canadian science part of the mission is currently provided by NSERC and CFCAS at the level of about $500,000 per year. We hope to secure a similar level of science funding for IPY from these two agencies. Other funding is needed at the Meteorological Service of Canada for the MAESTRO instrument and MSC will likely continue to fund their participation in ACE. The international partners will obtain their funding from their national agencies, as they currently do for their ACE activities.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof  Peter Bernath
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario
N2L 3G1
Canada

Tel: (519) 888-4814
Mobile: no
Fax: (519) 746-0435
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation