Project Title

Ultra-Violet (UV) measurements at McMurdo Station for the NOAA/Global Monitoring Division (GMD) Antarctic UV network

Summary

Event Number:
O-257-M/S
NSF / NOAA Agreement

Program Director:
Dr. David Porter

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Paul Sullivan / Randolph Jones / Sheryl Seagraves

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Vanda Grubisic
vanda.grubisic@noaa.gov
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Global Monitoring Division (GMD)

Project Web Site:
https://gml.noaa.gov/

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station, South Pole Station
Research Locations: McMurdo Station/Arrival Heights and South Pole Station/ARO

Description

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory Global Monitoring Division (ESRL/GMD) team conducts long-term measurements of ultra-violet radiation and trace gas constituents that influence climate and the ozone layer. The work at McMurdo Station and South Pole Station is done in conjunction with the ongoing worldwide measurements of carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, aerosols, water vapor, surface and stratospheric ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, and the ozone layer. Similar work is performed at Palmer Station. The measurements are used for time-series analysis of multi-year data records that focus on stratospheric ozone depletion, trans-Antarctic transport and deposition, interplay of the trace gases and aerosols with the solar and terrestrial radiation fluxes on the polar plateau, the magnitude of seasonal and temporal variations in greenhouse gases, and the development of polar stratospheric clouds over Antarctica. Other objectives are to determine the rate at which concentrations of these atmospheric constituents change, and to examine their sources, sinks, and budgets. Working with climate modelers and atmospheric chemists, these data are used to determine how the rate of change of these parameters affects climate and serve as inputs and verification for climate models.

Field Season Overview

This season, deployments to McMurdo and South Pole Stations are anticipated to be limited to three persons due to budget and station population constraints. At South Pole, NOAA staffs the ARO facility with a minimum of two core personnel year-round. During the summer months, additional scientists deploy for short periods to perform upgrades and routine maintenance on the instruments. Access to a balloon launch facility is necessary year-round. Cargo, mail, supplies, and compressed gas storage are required for balloon and air sampling needs. At McMurdo Station, the Research Associate (RA) provides year-round support for the UV monitoring instruments. Typically, site visits are needed every two years for one UV instrument NOAA participant. This season, the TEI Ozone instrument will be relocated from the Antarctica New Zealand Lab to the USAP Arrival Heights Lab by the McMurdo RA and a Grubisic participant.

Deploying Team Members