A33H-3302:
The Global Ozone and Aerosol Profiles and Aerosol Hygroscopic Effect and Absorption Optical Depth (GOA2HEAD) Network Initiative
Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Ru-Shan Gao, NOAA Earth System Research Lab, Boulder, CO, United States, James W Elkins, NOAA, Boulder, CO, United States, Gregory J Frost, NOAA, Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO, United States, Allison C McComiskey, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States, Daniel M Murphy, NOAA ESRL, Boulder, CO, United States, John A Ogren, NOAA Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States, Irina V Petropavlovskikh, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, CO, United States and Karen Hepler Rosenlof, NOAA ESRL CSD, Boulder, CO, United States
Abstract:
Inverse modeling using measurements of ozone (O3) and aerosol is a powerful tool for deriving pollutant emissions. Because they have relatively long lifetimes, O3 and aerosol are transported over large distances. Frequent and globally spaced vertical profiles rather than ground-based measurements alone are therefore highly desired. Three requirements necessary for a successful global monitoring program are: Low equipment cost, low operation cost, and reliable measurements of known uncertainty. Conventional profiling using aircraft provides excellent data, but is cost prohibitive on a large scale. Here we describe a new platform and instruments meeting all three global monitoring requirements. The platform consists of a small balloon and an auto-homing glider. The glider is released from the balloon at about 5 km altitude, returning the light instrument package to the launch location, and allowing for consistent recovery of the payload. Atmospheric profiling can be performed either during ascent or descent (or both) depending on measurement requirements. We will present the specifications for two instrument packages currently under development. The first measures O3, RH, p, T, dry aerosol particle number and size distribution, and aerosol optical depth. The second measures dry aerosol particle number and size distribution, and aerosol absorption coefficient. Other potential instrument packages and the desired spatial/temporal resolution for the GOA2HEAD monitoring initiative will also be discussed.
