| Principal Investigator: | Bottenheim, Jan W (3) |
| Licence Number: | 14674 |
| Organization: | Environment Canada |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2012
2011
2010
|
| Issued: | Mar 16, 2010 |
| Project Team: | Stoyka Netcheva, Andrew Shepperd |
Objective(s): To take part in the establishment of a long-term observation network to measure concentrations of two important greenhouse gases (ozone and carbon dioxide) as well as bromine oxide, accompanied with a full set of meteorological data and detailed geographic information across the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay.
Project Description: The goal of this project is to take part in the establishment of a long-term observation network to measure concentrations of two important greenhouse gases (ozone and carbon dioxide) as well as bromine oxide, accompanied with a full set of meteorological data and detailed geographic information across the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay. Data acquired will give the opportunity to improve the understanding of processes and mechanisms defining the Sub Arctic and Arctic environment. They will be used to support prediction of future earth-atmosphere behaviour in the context of global and regional air quality and climate change. There are two main types of data collection. 1. In situ analysers collect ambient air through sampling tubes and measure the concentration of ozone and carbon dioxide in real time. Instruments used are 2B Technology ozone monitor and Licor Carbon Dioxide monitor. 2. Light absorption spectrometer records sun light at different periods of time. On its way through the atmosphere to the surface of the Earth, sun light undergoes absorption by different gases present in the air. Each of the present gases leaves a fingerprint in the recorded spectra. The information on their identity and concentrations is obtained after data is transmitted on daily schedule via satellite communications with the data from the other sensors and processed in researcher headquarters. Temperature, wind speed and direction are measured by standard meteorological sensors: thermocouple and wind propeller. The instrument package is powered by batteries or solar panels depending on available solar radiation and operates in fully automated mode. It does not require any human assistance after deployment. The equipment is designed to monitor selected compounds over frozen surface and that limits the sampling time to periods with relatively deep (50cm) ice cover of the water basin. Therefore the first installation will be for a limited time – from March 16 until end of April. The equipment will be recalibrated and deployed at the same location in the Fall of 2010. It will conduct measurements over the winter and spring when it will be retrieved for new calibration and redeployed in the following Fall. We intend to repeat the deployment and measurement cycle over 4 years period. The project will make use of facilities provided by the Polar Continental Shelf Program. Scientific equipment will transported, stored for short time (up to 2 weeks), assembled and tested at the PCSP facilities before transporting it and deploying it in Beaufort Sea next to UNCLOS ice camp. Data will be archived in both internal and publicly available databases (e.g. IPY data website). Research results are published in recognized scientific journals and reported to IPY. Non technical summary will be provided and distributed to Northern communities. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from March 15, 2010 to December 31, 2010.
