A new UTLS initiative at NCAR Integrated Study of Dynamics, Chemistry, Clouds and Radiation of the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere

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A new UTLS initiative at NCAR Integrated Study
of Dynamics, Chemistry, Clouds and Radiation of
the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere
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Yet another Holton diagram
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New high resolution satellite data from AIRS
(2002)
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HIRDLS (2004 on AURA) sampling for 1 day
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COSMIC (2005) GPS Soundings in one day
Red dots are current radiosonde sites, green
dots are 2500 COSMIC soundings in 24-h
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GV Capabilities
Data shown are for HIAPER (GV Serial Number
677)

• Maximum Range 6,055 nm (11,214 km)
• Maximum Cruise Altitude 51,000 ft (15,545 m)
• Maximum Scientific Payload 6,600 lbs (2,994
  kg)
• Typical Zero Fuel Weight 53,679 lbs (24,349
  kg)
• Maximum Mission Fuel 37,221 lbs (16,883 kg)
• Maximum Ramp Weight 90,900 lbs (41,232 kg)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight 90,500 lbs (41,051 kg)

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The NCAR UTLS initiative project background and
status

• Started in ACD as a part of strategic initiative
  planning (2001, Lead by Brian Ridley, Sue
  Schauffler and Bill Randel)
• Supported by the NCAR Directors opportunity fund
  as an incubator project (October 2002, proposal
  led by Sue Schauffler)
• Coordinating committee formed to lead scientific
  planning and write proposal for NCAR strategic
  initiative funds (Dec. 2002)
• Laura Pan (PI), Mary Barth, Teresa Campos, Andrew
  Gettelman,
• Andy Heymsfield, Bill Kuo, Alyn Lambert, Don
  Lenschow, Bill Randel,
• Brian Ridley, David Rogers, Sue Schauffler, Jeff
  Stith,
• Paul Wennberg (Cal Tech)

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Background and status, cont.

• A draft white paper (Pan et al.) completed
  September 2003.
• A presentation is given to SPARC SSG September
  2003. (Bill Randel, invited by Ravishankara)
• Initiative proposal submitted to the NCAR
  director October 1, 2003. Decision will be made
  November 2003.
• UTLS community workshop planned for October
  27-28, 2003
• at NCAR
• Current team members 40 scientists from 5 NCAR
  divisions,
• 20 university and other external collaborators.

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Objectives of the UTLS Initiative

• Form a science working group to plan integrated
  research using HIAPER optimize integration with
  satellite programs and multi-scale models
• Form science plans that can guide the instrument
  development for HIAPER
• Facilitate crosscutting collaboration within NCAR
  and enhance collaborations with
  national/international partners
• Provide the leadership and the service for the
  university community

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Integrated Study of Dynamics, Chemistry, Clouds
and Radiation of the Upper Troposphere and Lower
Stratosphere
NCAR UTLS White Paper

• Laura Pan, Brian Ridley, Bill Randel, Andrew
  Gettelman, Andy Heymsfield, Mary Barth, Alan
  Fried, Chris Cantrell, Todd Lane, Steve Massie,
  Owen Cooper, Alyn Lambert, Mike Coffey, Don
  Lenschow, Sue Schauffler, Paul Wennberg, Guy
  Brasseur

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• White Paper Outline
• Background and Key Issues
• II. Research Tools
• 1. Airborne Observational Capability (HIAPER)
• 2. Satellite Platforms
• 3. Multi-scale Models
• III. Scientific Objectives and Proposed Studies
• 1.Water Vapor, Radiation, and Microphysics of the
  TTL
• 2.Extratropical Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange
  
• 3. Chemistry of Ozone and Radical Budget in the
  UTLS
• 4. Aerosols and Cloud Particle in the UTLS

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Key Issues of UTLS

• Radiative balance in the tropical tropopause
  region
• Dehydration of air entering the stratosphere
• Cloud microphysics
• Aerosol evolution and variability
• Multiphase chemistry
• Ozone and radical budgets, and oxidation
  processes
• Deep convection
• Stratosphere-troposphere exchange

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Proposed Studies I Water vapor, radiation and
microphysics of the TTL

• Topics
• Water Vapor and Temperature Distributions
• Impact of clouds on radiation in the tropical
  UTLS
• Impact of waves on the water vapor budget
• Role of convective clouds and cirrus in
  dehydration

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Tropical temperatures from GPS radio occultation
CHAMP and SAC-C
Kelvin wave
(Contributed by Bill Randel)
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Proposed Studies IIExtratropical
Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange

• Topics
• Characterize UTLS transition region
• Improve STE climatology spatial and seasonal
  variability
• Multiple scale processes and mixing (gravity
  waves)
• Deep intrusions into the stratosphere deep
  convection

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MOZART3 simulation using ECMWF winds
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Identifying and quantifying exchange processes
In situ CO and ozone From DC8
Lidar ozone
(Pan et al., 2003)
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Mixing of dry stratospheric air (and constituent
species) into cloudy troposphere
(Contributed by Todd Lane)
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Proposed Studies III Chemistry that controls
the budgets of Ozone and Radical species in the
UTLS

• Topics
• Convective influence on radical (HOx, ROx, NOx,)
  abundance and precursor concentrations
• Reconcile HOx abundance with HOx precursors
• Effects of multiphase chemistry on radicals, O3,
  and their precursors

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Aircraft NO measurements (Brian Ridley)
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NH summer monsoon influence on UTLS NOx
HALOE NOx climatology
Latitude
Longitude
MOZART3 simulation
Latitude
Longitude
Park et al., JGR, 2003
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Convective cloud simulation with chemistry
Contributed by Mary Barth
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Proposed Studies IVAerosol and Cloud Particle
Composition in the UTLS

• Topics
• Role of aerosols in UTLS chemistry and in the
  generation of cirrus particles
• Differences in aerosol composition between the NH
  and SH
• Composition of aerosol and PSCs in the polar
  regions

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Airborne Experiments(planning in progress)

1. STE near STJ
2. Water vapor and clouds TTL (team up with TC4)
3. Ozone and Radical Budgets
4. Cirrus near tropopause
5. PSC and polar ozone

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Challenges

• Breath versus focus - how do we address
  interconnected issues of broad range yet maintain
  sufficient focus and define achievable
  objectives?
• Scientific excellence versus community service -
  how do we achieve the goal of forming ONE
  community in the initiative?