the eiscat_3d science case: atmospheric section ian mccrea stfc ral
TRANSCRIPT
The EISCAT_3D Science Case:Atmospheric Section
Ian McCreaSTFC RAL
Preparatory Phase WP3: Science Case Work Package
• Engaging with potential new users• Holding targeted workshops• Gathering requirements for new science• Revising/developing the science case• Feeding science demands back to radar design• Issuing periodic versions of science case,
consistent with the PSD
The Science Working Group
• Convenors: Anita Aikio, Ian McCrea• 5-10 members at any time• Mix of existing and new EISCAT users• Membership rotates annually• Cover a wide range of science topics• Atmospheric science, space weather, modelling...• Two meetings with each committee, email
exchanges in between
Timetable of Activities• Current WG members: Mark Clilverd, Markus Rapp, Yasonobu Ogawa,
Kjellmar Oksavik, Asta Pellinen-Wannberg.
• First Meeting: FMI Helsinki 14/1/2011 (also Kirsti Kauristie and Pekka Verronen)
• Second Meeting: Uppsala 17/5/2011 (also Stephan Buchert and Thomas Leyser)
• First version of the science case due in Month 9 (July)
• Next roll of WG: Space Weather and Modelling
• Annual reports each year
• Final version of case in month 48
Structure of the Science Case
• Executive Summary• Introduction to EISCAT_3D• The Science Case:– Atmospheric physics and global change– Space and plasma physics– Solar system science– Space weather and service applications– Radar techniques, coding and analysis
Structure of the Atmospheric Section
• Background• Dynamical coupling in the atmosphere• Solar-terrestrial effects on atmospheric chemistry• Dynamical and chemical coupling in the
mesosphere• Atmospheric turbulence in the stratosphere and
troposphere• Short and long-term change in the upper
atmosphere
Dynamical Coupling in the Atmosphere:Topics Covered
• Rossby and gravity waves, winds, tides
• Wave breaking and dissipation
• Effects on large-scale circulation
• Consequences for composition and transport
Dynamical Coupling in the Atmosphere:Key Science Questions
• What is the three-dimensional structure of the wave fields propagating upwards from the troposphere? How do their characteristics change as they move upwards to thermospheric heights?
• How does atmospheric turbulence form and evolve? How is this process different in the different atmospheric layers?
• What is the relationship between changes in chemistry and changes in dynamics?
• How do waves and turbulence interact to modify the global-scale circulation of the middle atmosphere? What effects are seen when the normal circulation is disrupted?
• What is the relationship between the waves generated in the upper atmosphere and the processes which cause them?
Solar-terrestrial effects on chemistry:Topics covered
• Energetic particles and HOx/NOx
• Modulation of ozone density
• Links to dynamics• Links to surface
temperature anomalies• D-region chemistry• Active experiments on
the D-region
Solar-terrestrial effects on chemistry:Key Science Questions
• What are the durations and extents of the energetic particle events which modulate chemistry?
• How does the wave and tidal climatology change when the heat balance of the middle atmosphere is modulated, for example by changes in chemistry?
• What processes link these changes to apparent effects at lower altitudes?
• Can high-resolution continuous observations help validate chemical/dynamical models of the D-region?
• Can we improve our models through targeted active experiments?
Dynamical and Chemical Coupling in the MesosphereTopics Covered
• Chemistry and turbulence in mesospheric thin layers
• Structure and aspect sensitivity in PMSE
• PMWE: turbulence or dust?
• Long-term trends• Other kinds of D-region
fine structure (plasma instabilities)
Dynamical and Chemical Coupling in the MesosphereKey Science Questions
• How much small-scale structure is contained in mesospheric thin layers? Is this linked to wave activity, or plasma physics, or both?
• What explains the aspect sensitivity of PMSE and PMWE layers?
• What is the horizontal and vertical structure of the dust size in PMSE layers, and how does this vary?
• Are PMWE layers linked to both dust and turbulence, or only to turbulence? How do they form, and what determines when they appear?
• Are mesospheric thin layers signs of global change, connected to human activity?
Stratosphere and Troposphere:Topics Covered
• Changes in wave propagation
• Stratospheric warmings
• Turbulence and wave dissipation
• Stratosphere/ troposphere exchange processes
• Atmospheric vorticity
Stratosphere and Troposphere:Key Science Questions
• How does turbulence in the troposhere and stratosphere form and develop?
• What are the effects of turbulence and wave dissipation on energy exchange between atmospheric layers?
• How do stratospheric warming events affect the atmosphere at other heights, and at other latitudes?
• Can the upper atmosphere exert a downward control on the troposphere, and if so how?
Short and long-term change:Topics Covered
• Long-term cooling and contraction of the thermosphere
• Long-term change in the mesosphere
• Understanding shorter-term variations
• Effects on satellite drag
• Problems with models and predictability
Short and long-term change:Key Science Questions
• How does long-term change in the troposphere affect its energy exchange with the other atmospheric layers?
• Is greenhouse warming of the lower atmosphere resulting in long-term cooling of the upper atmosphere? If so, what effect is this having?
• What are the problems with our current models of the upper atmosphere, and what implications might these have for predictability?
• Can we use EISCAT_3D data as a basis to make improved predictions of shorter-term variations in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, such as those connected to the solar cycle?
What happens next?
• Last meeting with this version of the panel
• Good discussions yesterday – some work needed to accommodate the changes
• Continue to work on atmospheric section by email
• Need to work more on the key science questions
• Close to final version of atmospheric case by the time of the July submission
Things to think about......
• Are the section headings correct?
• Are there major areas missing?
• Are the key science questions appropriate?
• Are there important questions missing?
• Have the questions been answered already?
• Can EISCAT_3D really make a contribution?