Work Package leaders
Idar Barstad (UiB) / Øystein Hov (met.no)
Other Contributors
Sigbjørn Grønås(UiB), Joachim Reuder (UiB), Tor de Lange (UiB),
Anna Sjøblom (UNIS), Boris Ivanov (AARI), C. Keimle (DLR), P. Chang (NOAA).
The main activity in WP1 is the Norwegian-led field campaign in the Barents Sea during the winter 2008 (February-March). The observational work will have the sparse existing network of surface sites as the backbone, together with the satellite instrument network. Targeting of new observation requirements will be done by numerical modelling of a climatology of past adverse weather events. This plan will evolve as the total IPY logistics-operational-plan in the Arctic region of the North Atlantic region develops further, to ensure the most costeffective use of available platforms and human resources. The plan will be revised and instrumentation resources shared with others, with potential savings or campaign enhancement. An important use of the observations is to validate numerical forecast models \and to calibrate satellite observations so that the rejection rate of such data in assimilation is reduced and retrieval algorithms improved giving a permanent value enhancement of satellite data. The long-term use of satellite remote sensing and other non-conventional meteorological \observations (e.g., from weather radar) is of particular importance for improving forecasting capabilities in the Arctic.
In the period with campaign-type observations, we plan to have extra radiosonde launches on-demand (that is, when the numerical forecast indicate that extra observations can provide important new information) at Ny-Ålesund, Bear Island and at Kola Peninsula. In addition, we are exploring the possibility of adding new soundings at Franz Josef Land and from a ship (Coast Guard vessel) in the Barents Sea. Also, we intend to deploy buoys in the Barents Sea. Additionally, we will have one or two airborne platforms operating in the Barents Sea (DLR Falcon and NOAA P-3). We also seek to implement AMDAR-information from commercial airlines in the area and to obtain latent heat flux measurements based on new LIDAR technology from one of the airborne platforms (DLR Falcon). Should the NOAA P-3 be unable to participate we will instead carry out direct flux measurements of the marine boundary layer from a 30 m mast and radiation measurements at Svalbard. Flux measurements in the marginal ice zone are planned in collaboration with Russian partners. Some of the deployed platforms will remain after the project, improving the observational capability permanently.