Project Title

Observing the atmospheric boundary over the West Antarctic ice sheet

Summary

Event Number:
O-400-M
NSF / OPP Award 1745097

Program Director:
Dr. Rebecca Gast

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Jenny Cunningham

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. John Cassano
john.cassano@colorado.edu
University of Colorado Boulder
CIRES

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations: Siple Dome

Description

Atmospheric warming, along with oceanic forcing, is contributing to ice sheet melt and hence rising global sea levels. The atmospheric boundary layer links the atmosphere and the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet. Within the atmospheric boundary layer the exchange of heat, moisture, momentum and other atmospheric constituents occur and are critical for climate processes such as ice sheet melt. An observational campaign with a small uncrewed aerial system component will be carried out using a 30 m tall tower (TT) near McMurdo Station. The 30 m TT will provide year-round observations of the lower portion of the atmospheric boundary layer while the sUAS campaign will allow profiling through the full depth of the boundary layer.

Field Season Overview

Two of three deploying science participants will travel to Siple Dome to conduct an observational campaign, focused on the atmospheric layer over WAIS. Using a UAS, the surveys will be done just beyond the edge of the camp, and they will make 5-10 UAS flights per day over two weeks. Each survey will be approximately 30 minutes and the UAS will fly up to 3,000 vertical feet. The third team member will be based at McMurdo Station to provide technical support.

Deploying Team Members