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The EISCAT_3D Science Case: Atmospheric Section

The EISCAT_3D Science Case: Atmospheric Section. Ian McCrea STFC RAL. Preparatory Phase WP3: Science Case Work Package. Engaging with potential new users Holding targeted workshops Gathering requirements for new science Revising/developing the science case

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The EISCAT_3D Science Case: Atmospheric Section

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  1. The EISCAT_3D Science Case:Atmospheric Section Ian McCrea STFC RAL

  2. Preparatory Phase WP3: Science Case Work Package • Engaging with potential new users • Holding targeted workshops • Gathering requirements for new science • Revising/developing the science case • Feeding science demands back to radar design • Issuing periodic versions of science case, consistent with the PSD

  3. The Science Working Group • Convenors: Anita Aikio, Ian McCrea • 5-10 members at any time • Mix of existing and new EISCAT users • Membership rotates annually • Cover a wide range of science topics • Atmospheric science, space weather, modelling... • Two meetings with each committee, email exchanges in between

  4. Timetable of Activities • Current WG members: Mark Clilverd, Markus Rapp, Yasonobu Ogawa, KjellmarOksavik, AstaPellinen-Wannberg. • First Meeting: FMI Helsinki 14/1/2011 (also KirstiKauristie and PekkaVerronen) • Second Meeting: Uppsala 17/5/2011 (also Stephan Buchert and Thomas Leyser) • First version of the science case due in Month 9 (July) • Next roll of WG: Space Weather and Modelling • Annual reports each year • Final version of case in month 48

  5. Structure of the Science Case • Executive Summary • Introduction to EISCAT_3D • The Science Case: • Atmospheric physics and global change • Space and plasma physics • Solar system science • Space weather and service applications • Radar techniques, coding and analysis

  6. Structure of the Atmospheric Section • Background • Dynamical coupling in the atmosphere • Solar-terrestrial effects on atmospheric chemistry • Dynamical and chemical coupling in the mesosphere • Atmospheric turbulence in the stratosphere and troposphere • Short and long-term change in the upper atmosphere

  7. Dynamical Coupling in the Atmosphere:Topics Covered • Rossby and gravity waves, winds, tides • Wave breaking and dissipation • Effects on large-scale circulation • Consequences for composition and transport

  8. Dynamical Coupling in the Atmosphere:Key Science Questions • What is the three-dimensional structure of the wave fields propagating upwards from the troposphere? How do their characteristics change as they move upwards to thermospheric heights? • How does atmospheric turbulence form and evolve? How is this process different in the different atmospheric layers? • What is the relationship between changes in chemistry and changes in dynamics? • How do waves and turbulence interact to modify the global-scale circulation of the middle atmosphere? What effects are seen when the normal circulation is disrupted? • What is the relationship between the waves generated in the upper atmosphere and the processes which cause them?

  9. Solar-terrestrial effects on chemistry:Topics covered • Energetic particles and HOx/NOx • Modulation of ozone density • Links to dynamics • Links to surface temperature anomalies • D-region chemistry • Active experiments on the D-region

  10. Solar-terrestrial effects on chemistry:Key Science Questions • What are the durations and extents of the energetic particle events which modulate chemistry? • How does the wave and tidal climatology change when the heat balance of the middle atmosphere is modulated, for example by changes in chemistry? • What processes link these changes to apparent effects at lower altitudes? • Can high-resolution continuous observations help validate chemical/dynamical models of the D-region? • Can we improve our models through targeted active experiments?

  11. Dynamical and Chemical Coupling in the MesosphereTopics Covered • Chemistry and turbulence in mesospheric thin layers • Structure and aspect sensitivity in PMSE • PMWE: turbulence or dust? • Long-term trends • Other kinds of D-region fine structure (plasma instabilities)

  12. Dynamical and Chemical Coupling in the MesosphereKey Science Questions • How much small-scale structure is contained in mesospheric thin layers? Is this linked to wave activity, or plasma physics, or both? • What explains the aspect sensitivity of PMSE and PMWE layers? • What is the horizontal and vertical structure of the dust size in PMSE layers, and how does this vary? • Are PMWE layers linked to both dust and turbulence, or only to turbulence? How do they form, and what determines when they appear? • Are mesospheric thin layers signs of global change, connected to human activity?

  13. Stratosphere and Troposphere:Topics Covered • Changes in wave propagation • Stratospheric warmings • Turbulence and wave dissipation • Stratosphere/ troposphere exchange processes • Atmospheric vorticity

  14. Stratosphere and Troposphere:Key Science Questions • How does turbulence in the troposhere and stratosphere form and develop? • What are the effects of turbulence and wave dissipation on energy exchange between atmospheric layers? • How do stratospheric warming events affect the atmosphere at other heights, and at other latitudes? • Can the upper atmosphere exert a downward control on the troposphere, and if so how?

  15. Short and long-term change:Topics Covered • Long-term cooling and contraction of the thermosphere • Long-term change in the mesosphere • Understanding shorter-term variations • Effects on satellite drag • Problems with models and predictability

  16. Short and long-term change:Key Science Questions • How does long-term change in the troposphere affect its energy exchange with the other atmospheric layers? • Is greenhouse warming of the lower atmosphere resulting in long-term cooling of the upper atmosphere? If so, what effect is this having? • What are the problems with our current models of the upper atmosphere, and what implications might these have for predictability? • Can we use EISCAT_3D data as a basis to make improved predictions of shorter-term variations in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, such as those connected to the solar cycle?

  17. What happens next? • Last meeting with this version of the panel • Good discussions yesterday – some work needed to accommodate the changes • Continue to work on atmospheric section by email • Need to work more on the key science questions • Close to final version of atmospheric case by the time of the July submission

  18. Things to think about...... • Are the section headings correct? • Are there major areas missing? • Are the key science questions appropriate? • Are there important questions missing? • Have the questions been answered already? • Can EISCAT_3D really make a contribution?

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