The Ross Island Meteorology The Ross Island Meteorology Experiment Experiment (RIME): An International (RIME): An International Collaborative Investigation of Collaborative Investigation of Antarctic Meteorology and Antarctic Meteorology and Climate Climate David Bromwich Polar Meteorology Group Byrd Polar Research Center Byrd Polar Research Center The Ohio State University The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio
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The Ross Island Meteorology Experiment (RIME): An International Collaborative Investigation of Antarctic Meteorology and Climate David Bromwich Polar Meteorology.
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The Ross Island Meteorology ExperimentThe Ross Island Meteorology Experiment(RIME): An International Collaborative (RIME): An International Collaborative
Investigation of Antarctic Meteorology and Investigation of Antarctic Meteorology and ClimateClimate
David BromwichPolar Meteorology Group
Byrd Polar Research CenterByrd Polar Research CenterThe Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University
Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Topics Covered:Topics Covered:
•Introduction to Antarctica•Motivation for RIME•Climate Interactions Emphasizing the Ross Sea Sector•Approach
•Process-based Studies•Modeling Research
•RIME Activities and Timelines•Proposed HIAPER Aircraft Program•Conclusions
Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere
McMurdo
Palmer
South PoleIntroduction to Antarctica:Location and Size
Introduction to Antarctica - continued
• Highest
• Coldest
• Driest
• Windiest
• Antarctic Ice Sheet Stores the Equivalent of 73 m (240 ft) of Global Sea Level.
…continent on Earth
Introduction to Antarctica: Topography
McMurdo
Introduction to Antarctica: Annual Mean Surface Temperature
Introduction to Antarctica: Annual Accumulation
Introduction to Antarctica: Mean Winds
Introduction to Antarctica: Cyclonic Activity
Introduction to Antarctica: The Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf
Introduction to Antarctica: The Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf
Phote courtesy BPRC
Figure 1. McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Introduction to Antarctica: McMurdo Station
Motivation for RIME
•We have good knowledge of the basic aspects of many processes, but detailed understanding is lacking. This is required for understanding the role of Antarctica in the global climate system, for example via sensitivity studies with global climate models. One needs to get the cloud-radiation interactions correct for this.
•Also logistical activities in USAP are increasingly relying on numerical weather forecasts to allow expansion to year-round operations. E.g., rescue of Dr. Shemenski from South Pole in April 2001 and the collection of personnel from McMurdo around the same time.
•Antarctica is unique in that it represents the cold, dry, and pristine limits to the troposphere.
•The study area is representative of the processes that take place in all parts of Antarctica.
•This area is where strong interactions with the global climate system take place. More details to follow.
•Ease of collaboration with Italy, France, and New Zealand. RIME planning workshop in Bologna, Italy during July 2002.
•Logistics available for a field program.
•Timescales will be decided by the dominant atmospheric circulation modes.
•Most significant atmospheric modeling uncertainties occur at high latitudes, particularly the planetary boundary layer and the atmospheric hydrologic cycle.
Motivation for RIME
•Teleconnections with middle and low latitudesTeleconnections with middle and low latitudes
•Hemispheric mass exchangeHemispheric mass exchange
Climate Interactions Emphasizing the Ross Sea Sector
Teleconnections
Hines and Bromwich 2002 (in press)
MAM 1997(El Nino)
MAM 1999(La Nina)
Key Points:•Warmer than normal temperatures over West Antarctica during El Nino •Cooler than normal temperatures over West Antarctica during La Nina•Marked Differences and very tight gradients •Dipole observed
ENSO ImpactsPolar MM5 Potential Temperature Anomaly (oK)
Bromwich et al 2003 (in preparation)
Surface Pressure Changes
-30
-20
-10
0
10
-90 -75 -60 -45 -30 -15 0
latitude
dp (
hPa)
JUNE 29
JUNE 30
JULY 01JULY 02
Figure 5. Zonally-averaged surface pressure differences from 00UTC 28June 1988.
Hemispheric Mass ExchangeParish and Bromwich 1998
•Need regional focus to help to study processes and for forecasting purposes. This allows the collaboration with our friends from Italy and France. Aircraft, regional AWS, satellite products, wind profilers, enhanced upper air program, etc. are needed.
•Need a local focus. Parameterization testing and development. Primarily must be concentrated in a limited area to get enough equipment in place. Also can do testing and development of satellite products that are required for the process-based studies and forecasting purposes. Ground-based equipment, aircraft measurements, plus???.
Approach:
Katabatic WindsKatabatic Winds
Mesoscale CyclogenesisMesoscale Cyclogenesis
Barrier WindsBarrier Winds
Approach: Process-Based Studies
Katabatic wind surge Katabatic wind surge blowing across the blowing across the
Ross Ice ShelfRoss Ice Shelf..McMurdo Station, Ross Island
Effective Assimilation of Conventional and Novel Data Sources Effective Assimilation of Conventional and Novel Data Sources (e.g., AWS, Satellite Imagery, GPS/Met. Data, etc…)(e.g., AWS, Satellite Imagery, GPS/Met. Data, etc…)
HIAPER:HIAPER: An exciting opportunity for studies of An exciting opportunity for studies of Antarctic Meteorology and Climatology Antarctic Meteorology and Climatology
•Unique Aspects:Unique Aspects:•Can operate in Antarctica in late winter / early spring when other Can operate in Antarctica in late winter / early spring when other research aircraft cannot.research aircraft cannot.•Range – can fly out of New Zealand, perform Antarctic studies, Range – can fly out of New Zealand, perform Antarctic studies, and return home.and return home.•Can operate at high (max 51,000 ft, 100 hPa) and low altitudesCan operate at high (max 51,000 ft, 100 hPa) and low altitudes•Sophisticated instrumentation.Sophisticated instrumentation.
•Anticipated Usage:Anticipated Usage:•22ndnd RIME Field Season (Sep-Dec 2007). RIME Field Season (Sep-Dec 2007).
•Possible Investigation Topics:Possible Investigation Topics:•Intense cyclonic forcing – interactions with sub-polar latitudes and Intense cyclonic forcing – interactions with sub-polar latitudes and the stratosphere.the stratosphere.•Circumpolar Vortex dynamics.Circumpolar Vortex dynamics.•Local Antarctic processes and circulations – Polar Direct Cell.Local Antarctic processes and circulations – Polar Direct Cell.