The SHARE multidisciplinary project  and the atmospheric climate observations at the

The SHARESHARE multidisciplinary project  and the atmospheric climate observations at the

Nepal Climate Observatory - PyramidNepal Climate Observatory - PyramidGAW Global Station (5079m asl, Nepal Himalayas)

Promoted and managed by Ev-K2-CNR Committee in collaboration with Italian National Research Council

Angela MarinoniP. Bonasoni, E.Vuillermoz,

G.Lentini, R. Toffolon, P.Laj, SHARE and NCO-P teams

An integrated scientific and technological research project devoted to environmental monitoring and

climatic studies in mountain regions

2° Third Pole Environment Workshop KATHMANDU October 26-28, 2010 ICIMOD

Mountains are barometers of climate change. As the world heats up, mountain glaciers — the source of water for many of the world’s river systems and people — are melting at unprecedented rates, while rare plants and animals struggle to survive over ever diminishing areas. Mountain people, already among the world’s most disadvantaged, face greater hardships.

Understanding how climate change affects mountains,

and learning how to manage and mitigate any negative

effects, is vital for all of us, wherever we live.

FAO focus on mountains by J

Ross and T Hofer

The The Third PoleThird Pole regionregion has gained growing attention due to its has gained growing attention due to its significant role in global atmospheric circulation and its sensitivity significant role in global atmospheric circulation and its sensitivity for providing a first indication of climate changes, and thus is vital for providing a first indication of climate changes, and thus is vital for a better understanding of global climate and environmental for a better understanding of global climate and environmental changes and their impacts and interactions to human activities.changes and their impacts and interactions to human activities.

✔ Responds to the needs and priorities identified by international research institutions for understanding climate change and its impacts.

✔ Aims to provide scientific contribution ensuring long term high quality data by implementing mountain observations.

✔ Provides scientific analyses on climate, atmospheric composition, hydrology and water resources, glaciology, biodiversity, human health and anthropogenic impacts.

✔ Promoting and implementing a climate environment information system on mountains.

✔ Provides a feasible framework of adaptation and mitigation strategies to improve understanding of the effects of climate change on agriculture, biodiversity, health and water resources, and support environmental management policies and decision-making processes in developing countries (UNEP – Bali Strategic Plan).

Starting from the role of mountains as primary indicators of climate change, as stated by the UN General Assembly (Sec. Gen. Report – SMD 62/292, 2007), and international programs of FAO (focus on mountains) and IGBP (Report 49, 2001):

What are the central research objectives?

WP1 – Scientific Research and ClimateAtmosphereGlaciologyEnergy and hydrological cyclesLimnologyBiodiversity and natural resourcesMedicine

WP2 – Technological research and ClimateDevelopment and improvement of systems for the monitoring of atmosphere

composition and environment at high altitudes

WP3 – Information SystemDevelopment of an integrated Information System to collect information on

ongoing monitoring activities in mountain environments (under UNEP/ Mountain Partnership)

WP4 – Capacity buildingTechnology and know-how transfer. Providing of correct policy advises on

environmental field. Increasing of scientific capacity of local technicians and researchers by direct participation in research activities and training courses.

SHARE promotes the multidisciplinary study of phenomena SHARE promotes the multidisciplinary study of phenomena linked to global change, developing research activities in 6 linked to global change, developing research activities in 6

thematic areas: thematic areas:

The SHARE network:

WP1 - Scientific research and climate

Mt. Cimone Mt. Cimone (2165m, Italy)(2165m, Italy)

NCO-P (5079m, NCO-P (5079m, Nepal)Nepal)

Mt. RwenzoriMt. Rwenzori(4700 m, Uganda)(4700 m, Uganda)

Urdukas Pakistan Urdukas Pakistan 3.926 m3.926 m

With its stations in Europe, Asia and

Africa, today SHARESHARE represents Italy’s

expert contribution to international

integrated scientific projects on the

climate and environment, such

as: UNEP-ABC,

WMO-GAW, GEO, WCRP-

GEWEX-CEOP, NASA-AERONET, ILTER, EUSAAR.

SHARE includes a component of technological innovation for the development of climate and atmospheric observations at high altitude and remote mountain areas.

In spring 2009 the first prototype of Nano-SHARE was tested in a field campaign along the Himalayan Khumbu Valley and at the NCO-P by EvK2CNR in collaboration with CNR and CNRS.

WP - 2 Technological research

e.g. extreme conditions, transport, technical issues, such as power

supply, data transmission....

Nano-SHARE: a sophisticated

technological system has been developed to

overcome the difficulties often experienced in

installing high altitude atmospheric

monitoring stations:

Data acquisition and Data acquisition and communication systemscommunication systems

HOW the NCO-P works?

96 96 photovoltaicphotovoltaic panels and panels and 120 120 electric storage cells.electric storage cells.

Two principal and integrated actions are planned:

1. a shared database for the collection, management and access to spatial and non spatial data;

2. a dedicated thematic portal for the access to distributed databases and directly to remote high altitude stations.

To : RESEARCHERS (optimize their investments, harmonize their databases and improve

collaboration)

STAKEHOLDERS (access to a simple information system)

An integrated GIS database for environmental data management in the high mountains regions

WP - 3 SHARE Information System

Collaboration with local partners is mandatory within SHARE project, with the aim of a common knowledge growth. Training of local technical staff (Ev-K2-CNR, UNEP).

UNEP close collaboration with SHARE will strengthen partnership with developing countries, providing scientific knowledge and technological expertise for the climate related studies. The know-how will be available locally and to inter-governmental agencies, providing a technology transfer mechanism and supporting decision-making on the environment.

WP - 4 Capacity building

Mechanisms for transferring know-how and technology in the fields of environmental and geophysical sciences have already been activated.On-the-job training is provided to local technicians and researchers so as to create “scientific capacity”, as indicated in Agenda 21.

SHARE Pilot Projects

1. ABC NCO-P 2. Paprika3. Stelvio4. CEOP-HE5. CCQQB 6. Biodiversity7. Seed Bank8. GARD Khumbu

(Global Alliance Respiratory Disease)

9. Nano SHARE10. Information system

Indoor air pollution is recognized as a major

global public health threat. Approximately

half the world’s population and up to 90% of

rural household in developing countries use

biomass fuels in the form of wood, dung and

crop residues often associated with a bad

ventilation in the houses, especially in cold

mountain areas and in winter.

Khumbu Valley population is a particular sample

of population

= no traffic and industry pollution

= very high indoor pollutionThe population uses biomass fuels for home heating and cooking and many houses have not a chimney.

GARD KHUMBU (Global Alliance Respiratory Disease)

GARD SURYA

Epidemiologic study

3 villages located at different altitudes (2600m, 3600m, 4200m)

Total estimated population: 350

MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS

Questionnaire

Spirometry

Exhaled Nitric Oxide

Exhaled air condensate (biomarkers)

Electrocardiogram

Echocardiography

Urine samples (inflammation biomarkers)

Eyes examination

Indoor and outdoor pollution were measured Indoor and outdoor pollution were measured in cooperation with the Kathmandu University.in cooperation with the Kathmandu University.

Preliminary results show a Preliminary results show a high incidence high incidence of bronchial obstructionof bronchial obstruction, a low incidence of , a low incidence of outdoor pollution, the presence of outdoor pollution, the presence of indoor indoor pollutionpollution..

India

Bangladesh

Nepal

Indian Ocean

Tibet

N 27°57' E 86°48'

NCO-PNCO-P

The INDOEX and ABC project results inspired Ev-K2-CNR to fund the monitoring of atmospheric composition in Himalaya - Karakorum with the aim of contributing to the ABC-Asia Project, in collaboration with CNR-ISAC, CNRS-LGGE and NAST.

5079 m asl

ABC monitoring in the Himalayas:The Nepal Climate Observatory – Pyramid

To characterize the physical, optical and chemical properties of aerosol particles at a aerosol particles at a high altitude site in the Himalayas and their high altitude site in the Himalayas and their variability,variability,

To investigate the origin of particulate To investigate the origin of particulate mattermatter (anthropogenic/biogenic/dust) and their radiative impact (in particular related to their glacier melting potential),

To contribute to a better understanding of To contribute to a better understanding of the O3 budget in the areathe O3 budget in the area (characterizing the contributions of regional - long range - stratospheric air masses to the O3 variability),

To monitor greenhouse active and ozone-To monitor greenhouse active and ozone-destroying Halocarbon gasesdestroying Halocarbon gases.

NCO-P Scientific goals:

Measurement Instrument

Aerosol number concentration and size distribution (10nm to 32µm)

DMPS/SMPS, OPC-GRIMM 190

Absorption coefficient (Black carbon concentration)

MAAP

Total and back scattering coefficient

INTEGRATING NEPHELOMETER-TSI 3563

Aerosol optical depth CIMEL

Surface ozone concentrations TEI 49C

Greenhouses gas concentration (CFC, HFC, HCFC,...)

flask sampling

Chemical Characterization (organic and inorganic) of Aerosol Particles

high volume sampling on quartz filters

Solar irradiance (200 - 3600 nm) Pyranometer CMP21 Kipp&Zonen

Meteorological parameters (air temperature, Atmospheric pressure, Relative humidity, Wind speed and direction, Precipitation)

VAISALA WXT510

The NCO-Pyramid in-situ continuous measurements

Dust55%

WSOM20%

WINSCM10%

K1%

Mg0.3%

Ca2%

NH43%

Na0.6%

SO47%Cl

0.3%

NO32%

Cl

NO3

SO4

Na

NH4

K

Mg

Ca

WSOM

WINSCM

Dust

Averaged PM10 composition at NCO-P

5.4 g m-3

OM+BC65%

Na1%

NH46%

K1%

Mg1%

Ca4%

Cl1%

NO35%

SO414%

Oxalate2%

OM+BC

Na

NH4

K

Mg

Ca

Cl

NO3

SO4

Oxalate

Carrico et al 2003

4 years of black carbon concentration

[Marinoni et al., ACP, 2010]

black carbon diurnal variations

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

0:00 2:00 4:00 6:00 8:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 0:00

UTC + 4:45

ng

m-3

PRE-MONSOONMONSOONPOST-MONSOONDRY

[Marinoni et al., ACP, 2010]

[Bonasoni et al., ACP, 2010]

Atmospheric Brown Clouds hot spots in the Himalayas

BC deposition on snow/ice surfaces

Deposition of black carbon is a major driver of glacial retreat in the Hindu-Kush-Himalaya-Tibetan region (ABC Regional assessment, 2008).Ramanathan and Carmichael report that the impact of BC on melting snow and glaciers may equal the impact of increased atmospheric CO2.

Starting from BC concentrations at NCO-P in pre-monsoon season we estimate:

26-68 µg Kg-1 BC snow concentration

2 – 5.2 % snow albedo reduction

70 – 204 mm (we) runoff increase from a typical Tibetan glacier equal to 24 % of the seasonal runoff

[Yasunari et al., ACP, 2010]

Large dust storm blew through the Indus Valley, along the border between Pakistan and India, on June 12, 2006 (NASA - MODIS).

The severe heat waves that affected these areas in May 2006, could favor the development of dust storms and increase of pollution levels.

Dust storm in the Indus ValleyJune 12, 2006

In this MODIS picture, the dust heads toward the Himalaya Mountains.

12-18 June 2006 @ NCO Pyramid

… blowing along the Himalayas edge, dust air mass mixed with pollution, is pumped into the mountain valleys reaching the NCO-P

Long-range transport of dust and pollution : 12–18 June 2006

Jun Jul Aug Sep

Rai

n c

um

ula

tive

(m

m)

0

2

4

6

8

12 – 22 June 2006: Long-range transport of pollution and dust during Monsoon

Break in the monsoon precipitation

ACUTE POLLUTION EPISODE OF APRIL

2010

L evog luc os an

0

400

800

1200

22/03/10 23/03/10 24/03/10 25/03/10 26/03/10 27/03/10 28/03/10 29/03/10 30/03/10 31/03/10 01/04/10 02/04/10 03/04/10 04/04/10 05/04/10 06/04/10 07/04/10 08/04/10 09/04/10 10/04/10

ng m

-3n

g m

-3

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

0 2000 4000 6000

BC [ng/m3]

EC [n

g/m

3 ]

10:46 NST

16:46 NST

A thick haze is clearly discernible by NCO-P images taken on April 7 during morning and after-noon conditions, testifying the afternoon extension of the ABCs up to the high Himalayass.

http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/special_issue103.html

Special Issue Atmospheric Brown Cloud in the Himalayas9 papers on ACP/ACPD relative to NCO-P data

Scientific results:

NCO-P

World Meteorological Organization Global Atmospheric Watch

NCO-P (PYR) is the 33° GAW WMO Global Station

+ NRT

DATA AVAILABILITY http://evk2.isac.cnr.it/realtime.html

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION