Research Objectives:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been conducting studies to determine and assess the long-term buildup of trace atmospheric constituents that influence climate change and the ozone layer. Time-series analyses of long-term data provide insight into several phenomena of particular interest. These include:
+ Seasonal and temporal variations in greenhouse gases,
+ Stratospheric ozone depletion,
+ Transantarctic transport and deposition,
+ The interplay of the trace gases and aerosols with solar and terrestrial radiation fluxes that occur on the polar plateau.
Personnel at Palmer Station will collect air samples to be analyzed for carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, stable isotopic ratios of carbon dioxide and methane. Flasks will also be collected for analysis of halocarbons, nitrous oxide, and other trace constituents.
These measurements allow researchers to determine the rates at which concentrations of these atmospheric constituents change. They also point to likely sources, sinks, and budgets. This group collaborate with climate modelers and diagnosticians to explore how the rates of change of these parameters affect climate.
