Ground based measurements of stratospheric trace species around 60°N as part of the second European stratospheric arctic and mid-latitude experiment

Objective

The aim of this project is to install and operate high quality infrared and ultraviolet ground-based remote sensing instruments at a number of sites around 60°N in order to measure the concentrations of key stratospheric species. The data gathered will be coupled with meteorological data and interpreted using photochemical models to develop present understanding of stratospheric processes involved in ozone depletion, particularly during winter and spring.


The measurements and modelling work constituting this project are designed to:

- measure the concentrations of ozone and other stratospheric trace species at a number of sites in the latitude band spanning 52°N to 64°N in the period January 1994 to May 1995. Measurements in most instances will be in the form of a time series of vertical column amounts. For some species (03, NO2, HNO3 and HCl) it will be possible to derive altitude profiles;

- investigate the correlation between the measurements and the relative proximity of the polar vortex;

- determine the extent of ozone decreases due to chemically induced ozone loss during winter and investigate the transportation of ozone poor air from high latitudes during spring. This will rely on the use of trajectory modelling;

- quantitatively determine the chemical partitioning within the ClOy and NOy families in the stratosphere. Simultaneous measurements of some dynamical tracers (HF and N2O) will give an indication of the degrees of heterogeneous chemical processing.

Further tasks of the project are to extend the measurement capabilities of the instruments and to utilise these during SESAME Phase III:

- One FTIR and one UV-visible instrument will be developed so that the moon can be used as a source. This will provide night-time data and increase the frequency of the measurements.

- A UV-visible instrument will be developed with sufficient sensitivity and spectral resolution to allow measurements to OClO and BrO to be made.

- An FTIR will be used to make measurements from an aircraft during Phase III. This will increase the frequency of measurements and extend the geographical coverage.

- Improved data analysis algorithms will be implemented so that vertical profile information can be derived from high resolution infrared ground-based measurements and UV-visible spectra. The target molecules for these techniques will be HCl (from FTIR measurements) and O3 (from UV-visible measurements).

- A photochemical trajectory model will be used to predict vertical distribution of key trace species.

Programme(s)

• FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

NPL Management Ltd.

Address

Queens Road
TW11 0LW Teddington
United Kingdom

Participants (8)

BELGIAN INSTITUTE FOR SPACE AERONOMY

Belgium

Address

3,Ringlaan 3
1180 Bruxelles

COUNCIL FOR THE CENTRAL LABORATORY OF THE RESEARCH COUNCILS

United Kingdom

Address

Chilton
OX11 0QX Didcot,harwell,chilton

Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial 'Esteban Terradas'

Spain

Address

Car. Ajalvir Km. 4
28850 Madrid

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V.

Germany

Address

55020 Mainz

NORWEGIAN INSTITUTE FOR AIR RESEARCH

Norway

Address

Instituttveien 18
2027 Kjeller

SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE LTD-IVL SVENSKA MILJOININSTITUTET AB

Sweden

Address

43,Valhallavagen 81
11427 Stockholm

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES ABERYSTWYTH

United Kingdom

Address

Penglais Campus, Cerediglon
SY23 3BZ Aberystwyth

University of Cambridge

United Kingdom

Address

Lensfield Road
CB2 1EW Cambridge