1. International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere
John Burkhart1, Georg Hansen1, Kjetil Tørseth1, Taneil Uttal2, James Drummond3
1 Norwegian Institute for Air Research 2 NOAA - ESRL 3 University of Toronto

2. Implementation of IASOA
legacy of continuous measurements
combined with episodic, focused, campaigns
promote and integrate the activities of intensive, and permanent, observatories. …
Establish multi-disciplinary "super-sites" to determine the processes and drivers Arctic change
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

3. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
IASOA Network Today
Status:
Stations for IASOA identified
Advanced measurements exist
Station contacts assembling metadata for compilation
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

4. What is needed for IASOA?
How do clouds, aerosols and atmospheric chemistry interact to force the Pan-Arctic surface energy balances and albedo-temperature feedback?
What is the relative role of tropospheric dynamics and stratospheric linkages in controlling the Arctic surface variability?
What portion of the recent changes in the Arctic weather and climate can be attributed to increases in anthropogenic sources?
How does the Arctic atmosphere interact with the rest of the Arctic (marine, cryospheric and terrestrial) system?
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

5. What do we need for IASOA?
To answer these questions (and others), all of the available observational resources represented by surface and upper air network observations, intensive observatories, satellite observations, manned and unmanned airborne measurements, and focused field campaigns must be utilized.
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

6. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Tiksi, Russia
Barrow, Alaska
Ny-Alesund, Svalbard
Eureka, Canada
Summit, Greenland
Alert, Canada
IASOA Target Observatories
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

7. Barrow, Alaska Existing Facilities
U.S. National Weather Surface (since 1920)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Baseline Observatory – Radiation, Aerosols, Gases (since 1972)
Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement site – Clouds and Radiation (since 1998)
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

8. Alert and Eureka Canada
Global Atmosphere Watch Station – Chemistry (since 1983)
Meteorological Services Canada Weather Station (since 1947)
CANDAC Polar Environmental Atmospheric Research Laboratory (built in 1993 for stratosphere studies)
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

9. Alert Canada – Global Atmosphere Watch Station and BSRN site
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

10. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Radiometer
Eureka, Canada
P-AERI
Cloud Radar
HSRL (Lidar)
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

11. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Summit, Greenland
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

12. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Ny-Alesund
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

13. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Tiksi, Russia
National Science Foundation will contribute to Wx station upgrades in 2006
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

14. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
NSF rebuilt Tiksi Weather Station in 2006
Plans for construction of research facility in 2007
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

15. Rational for Intensive Atmospheric Observatories
To understand the Arctic atmosphere it is necessary to have detailed measurements of clouds, aerosols, radiation and surface fluxes. Clouds in the Arctic have been shown in a number of studies to have a major influence on surface radiation budgets and resulting surface temperatures, ice ablation/melt rates, and the onset of the annual snow melt season.
Aerosols contribute to balances in the Arctic atmosphere by direct forcing and also by indirect cloud-aerosol effects.
The emphasis is on taking measurements that contribute to understanding WHY climate is changing and not just HOW climate is changing. There is a special emphasis on untangling natural and anthropogenic influences, through process studies, satellite validation and model support.
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

16. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
In the Arctic
the sign may
be different for
cloud forcing
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

17. Changes in sea ice cover Change in planetary albedo Melting permafrost
release of greenhouse
sequestered gases
Melting Greenland ice sheet – Rises in sea level
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

18. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
The Scientific
Satellite Validation
Nine-year comparison of monthly cloud fractions form surface, TOVS and AVHRR on NOAA satellites And MODIS on NASA satellites over Barrow, Alaska
Detailed resolved cloud microphysics/optical
properties
Aerosol Cloud Interactions
Cloud Forcing of Surface Radiation Budgets
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

19. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Question:
How do we integrate ground station records with aircraft campaign measurements?
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

20. Introduction to Summit Station
Located on the summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Access is provided via C-130 flights from Kangerlussuaq, GL
VECO Polar Resources provides logistical support
Funding is provided through the National Science Foundation
The station is operated under permits from the Danish Polar Centre and the Greenlandic Home Rule Government
72º 34’ N, 38º 29’ W, 3250 m.a.s.l.
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

21. Introduction to Summit Station
A brief history
Summit is the location of the GISP II ice core drilled from
The record is one of the most highly cited climate records today
Air-snow-firn-ice transfer studies demonstrated the need for year-round measurments to quantify the variability and improve interpretation of the ice core record
, first year-round season
Nitrate emissions and reactivity of snowpack research gains widespread attention as a result of 1998, 2000, and other intensive campaigns at Summit (Dibb et al., 1998; Honrath, 1999.; others)
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

22. Introduction to Summit Station
Station layout / resources
4 ‘year round’ structures
Bighouse
Greenhouse
Garage / GenMod
Science Trench
2 science towers
50 m. Energy balance tower
15 m. Science tower
4.8 km groomed skiway
Temporary summer structures
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

23. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Summit Station
UNEP-GAW Site
Contributing measurements since 2000
NOAA/CMDL
Carbon group flask samples
Halocarbon flask sampling
Continuous surface ozone
Aethelometer
Aerosols
UC Davis DELTA group DRUM sampler
BSI
NSF UV radiation network
Total ozone (Dobson Units)
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

24. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Science outlook
Ongoing projects
LTO year round measurements
Surface snow sampling
Monthly snow pits
Aerosols (UCDavis)
Meteorology (ETH Zurich, GC-NET & DMI)
Accumulation forest & 12 km transect
NOAA/LTO measurements
Continuous ozone
Aethelometer
Weekly MAKS sampling
Bi-monthly HATS sampling
Other year round projects
Hawley borehole monitoring (densification rate measurement)
GEOFON (seismic measurements)
BSI UV radiation
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

25. 7Be and 210Pb Radionuclides
Summer peak in 7Be unique to Summit, indicating air masses over the site reflect upper tropospheric conditions and stratospheric injections
210Pb concentrations are lowest at Summit, and lacking seasonality demonstrating the influence of Arctic Haze is low at 3 km altitude over the Greenland Ice Sheet
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

26. Measurements at Summit
Long-Term Observatory (LTO)
NSF Funded for
Included in the WMO-GAW program (#04417)
Cooperative baseline measurements:
Science Coordination Office run jointly through UCM & UNH
For further information:
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

27. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Alert Measurements
Measurement Programs at Alert GAW lab-as of April 2006
Table 1a: Continuous and Integrated Measurements carried out by ARQB
Measurement Instrument Sampling Frequency Sampling Record Comments
Aerosol Chemistry Filter Weekly Integrated Present ARQM & HC partnership
(Major Ions, metals, sulphate & Isotopes)
Meteorology Continuous 1985 – Present ARQM
(Wind, Temp, Dew Point & Pressure)
Peroxy Acetylnitrate GC Continuous 1986 – Present ARQM
Ozone/UV/SO2 Brewer Continuous 1986 – Present ARQX
CO2 NDIR Continuous Present ARQM
CH4 GC Continuous 1987 – Present ARQM
Black Carbon Aethalometer Continuous Present ARQM
Ozone (surface) TECO Continuous 1992 – Present ARQM, ARQP prior to 2004
Toxics (PCBs, Ocs) PUF/filter Weekly Integrated 1993 – Present ARQP
Gaseous Mercury Tekran Continuous 1995 – Present ARQP
CFC-11 and CFC-12 GC Continuous 1995 – Present ARQM
CO GC Continuous 1998 – Present ARQM
H2 GC Continuous 1998 – Present ARQM
Light Absorption PSAP Continuous 1998 – Present ARQM
N2O GC Continuous 2000 – Present ARQM
SF6 GC Continuous 2000 – Present ARQM
Particulate Mercury Tekran Continuous 2001 – Present ARQP
Persistent Organic Pollutants passive PUF Seasonally Integrated 2002 – Present ARQP
BrO DOAS Continuous 2003 – Present ARQM
Solar Radiation BSRN Continuous 2004 – Present ARQX, NOAA SEARCH
Nephelometer Nephelometer Continuous 2004 – Present ARQM
CPC CPC Continuous 2004 – Present ARQM
18O/16O-H2O Water Vapour Weekly Integrated 2004 – Present ARQM w U of Chicago
2H/H-H2O
PS-1 PS-1 Weekly Integrated 2005 – Present ARQP
Table 1b: Flask and Spot Sampling carried out by ARQB
Ozone Vertical Balloon Sonde Bi Weekly Present ARQX, performed by MSC weather
Profiles station staff
CO2 Flask Weekly 1975 – Present ARQM
CO2,CH4,CO,N2O Flask Weekly 1998 – Present ARQM
SF6, 13C and 18O
in CO2
Mercury in Snow Snow Sample Event Basis (Winter) Present ARQP
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

28. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Alert Measurements
Table 1c: Measurements carried out by Canadian and International Partners
Measurement Instrument Sampling Frequency Sampling Record Comments
CO2, CH4, CO, Flask Weekly NOAA- CMDL, USA
N2O, SF6,
13C/12C-CO2
18O/16O-CO2,
13C/12C-CH4
CO2, 13C/12C-CO2 Flask Weekly SIO, USA
and 18O/16O-CO2
Table 1c: cont…
CO2,CH4,CO,N2O Flask Weekly CSIRO, Australia
SF6, 13C/12C-CO2
Halocarbons, Halons Flask Weekly NOAA-CMDL, USA
N2O and CFCs
CO2, 13C/12C-CO2 Flask Weekly IOS, Canada
Oxygen / Nitrogen Flask Weekly SIO, USA
14C/12C-CO2 Integrated Weekly U of Heidelberg, Germany
CO2, CH4, CO,N2O Flask Weekly U of Heidelberg, Germany
SF6, 13C/12C
18O/16O in CO2
222Radon Alpha Spect. Continuous U of Heidelberg, Germany
Halocarbons Flask Weekly NIES, Japan
(CH3Br and CH3I)
Precipitation Rain Sample Monthly Integrated H&W Canada
-gross beta measurements
Gamma Radiation TDL Seasonally Integrated H&W Canada
18O/16O-H2O Water Vapour Weekly Integrated U of Heidelberg, Germany
2H/H-H2O
Aerosol Chemistry Filter Weekly Integrated Present ARQM & France partnership
VOC Flask Weekly EC, Ottawa
CO2, CH4, CO,N2O Flask Weekly MPI, Germany
CO2, CH4, CO,N2O Flask Weekly LCSE, France
Permafrost Temperature Thermistor Array Continuous NRC, Ottawa
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

29. What can POLARCAT contribute?
Overflights!
Profiles and transects near stations considered valuable
Space
If available, there is interest in contributing instruments
Real time CN
Ozone
Optical:
Scattering, absorption, extinction
GHG, C-cycle:
Space for flasks?
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

30. Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007
Thank you!
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

31. IGACO TARGET VARIABLE LIST Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
 Air Quality
 Oxidation Capacity
 Climate
  Stratospheric Ozone Depletion O3 
H2O (water vapour) CO
CO2
CH4
HCHO
VOCs
N2O
NOx = NO+NO2 HNO3
SO2
BrO, ClO, OClO HCl, ClONO2 CH3Br, CF3Br, CFC-11, CFC-12, HCFC-22
aerosol optical properties
actinic flux
The short list obtained after filtering according to the criteria in the previous slide . Emphasized that this is not finalized.
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

32. Case Study: Transport of forest fire emissions
July – August, 2004, Summit, Greenland
Evidence of strong albedo decreases following BC episode in July.
August episode also show response despite fresh snowfall which generally increases albedo
Fresh snow

33. 7Be and 210Pb Radionuclides – value of a network
Summer peak in 7Be unique to Summit, indicating air masses over the site reflect upper tropospheric conditions and stratospheric injections
210Pb concentrations are lowest at Summit, and lacking seasonality demonstrating the influence of Arctic Haze is low at 3 km altitude over the Greenland Ice Sheet
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007

34. Case Study: Transport of forest fire emissions
Conclusions:
FLEXPART showed forest fires were lifted over the polar dome and transported throughout the Arctic
AOD measurements at Barrow, Summit, and Zeppelin confirmed model results and the presence of forest fire smoke at these sites
Albedo decreased 3% at Summit during strongest episode
Boreal forest fires indeed have a strong impact on Arctic AOD and there is evidence for an albedo impact resulting from these plumes as well
Burkhart, JF – POLARCAT Science Planning, Paris 2007