Implementation of the Ross Island Meteorology Experiment (RIME) Implementation of the Ross Island Meteorology Experiment (RIME) David H. Bromwich 1, John J. Cassano 2, James Pinto 2,3, and James Moore 4 1 -Ohio State University 2 -University of Colorado Boulder 3 -NCAR Atmospheric Technology Division 4 -UCAR Joint Office for Scientific Support Outline Key science questions Approaches to address key science questions Timeline Budget aspects Discussion topics

The Overarching Hypothesis: The Ross Sea region is critical in the transport of mass, heat and momentum between the Antarctic continent and lower latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere on a variety of scales.

Figure 2.1. Mean streamlines of the wind at approximately 10-m above the surface based on daily MM5 simulations from 15 June – 15 July Surface interactions with middle latitudes (Courtesy Thomas R. Parish) RAS SIPLE COAST CPV BYRD TNB

Mass loss from Antarctica primarily via the Ross Sea Sector has hemispheric impact Parish and Bromwich (1998) (Zonal average includes all longitudes)

Surface Pressure DifferenceSurface Temperature Difference Tropical teleconnections: Late 1990s El Nino minus La Nina **The Ross Sea is a center of action (Bromwich et al. 2004)

Specific science topics Circumpolar VortexCircumpolar Vortex Terrain-Induced CirculationsTerrain-Induced Circulations Moist Processes and Cyclonic EventsMoist Processes and Cyclonic Events Mesoscale CyclonesMesoscale Cyclones Boundary-Layer Structure and TransformationBoundary-Layer Structure and Transformation Local Moist Atmospheric ProcessesLocal Moist Atmospheric Processes Antarctica Ross Ice Shelf South Pacific Ocean Rising motion due to cyclones Katabatic Winds RAS = Katabatic + Barrier Winds Southward Return Flow Sinking Branch Polar Direct Circulation over Antarctica: Dominant Ross Sea Component How do these topics relate to climate?

Approaches to address science questions Investigation Approaches Regional Surface- Based Array RIME Supersite Aircraft StudiesModeing Satellite Remote Sensing Climate Studies Science Topics Small scale Boundary Layer Structure and Transformation xxxx Local Moist Atmospheric Processes xxxxx Mesoscale Cyclones xxxx Terrain- Induced Circulations xxxx x Moist- Processes and Cyclonic Events x xxxx Large scale Circumpolar Vortex x xxxx

RIME Field Sites:

Ross Ice Shelf MG Pattern Meso Raster RAS MG Pattern Local Raster Glacier Pattern Schematic showing tentative supersite location and flight patterns for mapping of RAS (sawtooth pattern), katabatic flow down Byrd Glacier (magenta lines), mesoscale circulation in and around Ross Island (local raster), and interaction between RAS, katabatic outflow and mesocyclones (MG Rasters). Long-duration sampling to capture evolution of various mesoscale circulations will be accomplished within 400 km of McMurdo with Aerosonde UAVs. Shorter duration flights with research aircraft to sample local physical processes and larger-scale features of the flow regime. Supersite and AWS (not shown) positioned to measure local processes associated with the RAS. RIME Aircraft Activities: Supersite HIAPER C-130

Timeline: RIME Field Activities and Science Topics Circumpolar Vortex Terrain-Induced Circulations Moist Processes and Cyclonic Events Mesoscale Cyclones Boundary Layer Local Moist Processes 2005/ / / /2009 International Polar “Year” (Red)(Blue) Why 3 Field Seasons?: 2006/2007 season is the first field deployment related to the Supersite and will be a shakedown period. Similarly, this is the first field deployment for the U.S. Twin Otter and Aerosondes. Activities will be concentrated near McMurdo (local activities). 2007/2008 season is when local scale studies are expanded to the Ross Ice Shelf and north of Ross Island. 2008/2009 season expands to regional focus. This will be facilitated by the C-130 and HIAPER

FY05FY06FY07FY08FY09FY10 Regional Surface-Based Array – RIME Supersite– Aircraft Studies – Modeling.5 Satellite Remote Sensing–.5 – Climate Studies.5 Support< Total RIME Budget Estimates by Observation Type/Discipline (Estimate in Millions of $) Assumptions: Supersite continuous ops FY07-09 U.S. Twin Otter “provided” by USAP Polar C-130 deployment cost only HIAPER aircraft funneled through NSF deployment pool FY10 resources for analysis activities Current Funding: Parish and Cassano: RAS Study ~150 K/y Kuo et al. – Data Assimilation ~250 K/y

Discussion Topics The likely future funding profile for the RIME project. As we have seen, the project requires resources far in excess of the normal budget for Polar Oceans and Climate Systems. Consideration of submission deadline delay for RIME proposals (July 1, 2004)? What is the best way to coordinate proposals? Are individual or collaborative approaches preferred? Discussion of aircraft platform requirements for RIME. Building and maintaining the Supersite. Need for RPO (RIME Project Office) and responsibilities. Intl collaborations, (e.g., UK, Italy, etc), to improve RIME observational network and help answer key science questions.