Barrow Observatory is located near sea level 8 km east of Barrow, Alaska at 71.32 degrees north. This facility is manned year round by two scientists who often commute to work in winter on snow machines. Due to its unique location, it is host to numerous research projects from around the world. |
Causes and Impacts of Recent Changes in the Pacific Arctic
Unprecedented minima of sea ice area have occurred in the Pacific Arctic during
the four most recent summers. Summer 2003 and 2004 brought record forest fires
and drought to eastern Siberia and Alaska after a decade of warm springtime temperature
anomalies. In surrounding seas there has been a northward shift of ice-dependent
marine animals. Many Pacific Arctic changes are continuing, despite the observation
that climate indices such as the Arctic Oscillation were negative or neutral
for six of the last nine years. The Pacific Arctic may be having a larger role
in shaping the persistence of Arctic change than has been previously recognized.
We will work with our partners to carry out observations in this area to measure
movement of water through the Bering Strait, gather observations about physical
change in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and study impacts of physical change on
marine ecosystems in this region. Bering Strait mooring programs will be conducted,
as well as mooring and ship-board studies in the eastern Bering Sea.
Progress: Ocean observation activities – NOAA is involved
in the International Arctic Ocean Observing System (iAOOS) and the Environmental
Studies of Subarctic Seas (ESSAS) coordinated IPY projects.
• An existing US-Russia
collaboration (RUSALCA) is focused on long-term observations of fluxes
through the Bering Strait. This effort began in 2004 and is expected
to continue through and beyond the IPY period. This project is funded
by NOAA's Arctic Reserch Program, with co-funding by the Office of Ocean
Exploration. The RUSALCA project also is examining variability in ocean
climate in the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea and the associated
impacts on the marine ecosystem. A major international effort is being
planned for summer 2008 involving U.S., Russia, China, Korea, Japan,
and Canada. A planning meeting was held in October in China, and a follow-up
meeting is planned for April 2007 in Korea. Collaboration is maintained
with other US-funded projects in the region (NSF, DOI, NPRB) through
the SEARCH program, and international collaboration is conducted through
the Pacific Arctic Group of the International Arctic Science Committee.
- Through its Climate and Ecosystems Program, NOAA will conduct ocean climate
observations in the Bering Sea to evaluate impacts of long-term ocean climate
variability and change on important living marine resources. This work
is closely coordinated with the NSF
BEST program and the NPRB efforts
in the Bering Sea.
- NOAA, in partnership with the DOD/COE/CRREL and the IABP, supports deployment
of ice
mass balance and other ice-tethered buoys to observe changes in Arctic
sea ice.
The South Pole Observatory was established at the geographical south pole at 2837 m above sea level in 1957 as part of the International Geophysical Year. The National Science Foundation provides the infrastructure for the NOAA/CMDL scientific operations including a state of the art science building named the Atmospheric Research Observatory opened in 1996. |
Polar Atmospheric Observatories and Field Campaigns
As part of the IPY project “International Arctic System for Observing
the Atmosphere” (IASOA), a system of strategically located, long-term Atmospheric
Observatories will be developed around the Arctic to carry out both routine
measurements made at meteorological stations and intensive measurements at
the surface and through the depth of the atmosphere. Among the quantities
we expect to measure are solar radiation, aerosols, air chemistry, trace
gases, cloud properties, water vapor, ozone, temperatures, winds, precipitation,
surface albedo, and stratospheric properties. These measurements are essential
to calibrate and validate satellite sensors and to improve the reliability
of climate models. The Atmospheric Observatory partnership includes the United
States, Canada, Russia, Norway, Finland, and China. NOAA’s existing
baseline observatories at Barrow, Alaska and South Pole will continue to
focus on measurements of trace gases and aerosols. The flask-sampling program
has 15 polar stations that collect atmospheric samples for trace gas measurement.
In the Arctic, a new observatory at Eureka, Canada will operate during the
IPY, and the observatory at Barrow will continue. The observatory at Tiksi,
Russia will be partially operational. These three observatories will focus
on measurements of clouds, radiation, and trace gases.
NOAA/NCDC also plans to install a Climate
Reference Network (CRN) site configuration at the Russian Arctic observing
site in Tiksi (dependent on final FY07 budget).
Progress: Recent accomplishments include:
- In July 2006, a new atmospheric observatory was opened in Eureka, Canada
to complement the existing NOAA and DOE observatory in Barrow Alaska. NOAA
and NSF have provided instrumentation at the Eureka Observatory, as has
the Canadian Network for Detection of Atmospheric Change (CANDAC). Meteorological
Service Canada provides much of the basic infrastructure at the observatory.
- A similar atmospheric observatory is under development at Tiksi, Russia,
with support from NOAA, NSF and Roshydromet. A new weather building supported
by NSF was installed in October 2006. NSF intends to install a “clean
air facility” at Tiksi in summer 2007, and NOAA will provide samplers
and sensors at this facility. Both Finland and Norway are expected to join
the international consortium at Tiksi.
- Preliminary discussions have been held regarding atmospheric observations
at Ny Alesund. Both coordination of existing observations and installation
of a few additional instruments will be needed to create a complete observatory
there.
- An IASOA planning meeting was held in Toronto in summer 2006.
Polar Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Observations
As a part of the International Geophysical Year in 1957, column ozone measurements
were initiated at the South Pole using Dobson spectrometers. In 1985, the
annual stratospheric ozone depletion over Antarctica was identified. In less
than 5 years it was proven that this “ozone hole” was caused
by human emitted chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Arctic stratospheric ozone changes,
though lesser in magnitude than the Antarctic ozone hole, are by no means
of lesser importance because of the high density of human population in the
northern hemisphere. Key studies will be undertaken in the Arctic to monitor
these changes.
Progress: Routine observations of ozone are ongoing at Barrow
and South Pole.
Antarctic Living Marine Resource (AMLR) Survey
The principal objective of the NOAA AMLR research program is to collect the
scientific information needed to detect, monitor, and predict the effects
of harvesting and associated activities on target, dependent, and related
species and populations of Antarctic marine living resources and the ecosystem(s)
of which they are a part.
Progress: A ship-based research program is planned for FY07,
although it will be limited to 35 days because of budgetary constraints.
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