Polar Stratospheric Cloud observations at Davis
This indicator is no longer maintained, and is considered OBSOLETE. INDICATOR DEFINITION Lidar observations at Davis Station, Antarctica, are used to determine daily values of average percentage occurrence and upper and lower altitude limits for Polar Stratospheric Clouds. The occurrence values are...
| Other Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Dataset |
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Australian Antarctic Data Centre
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| Online Access: | https://researchdata.ands.org.au/polar-stratospheric-cloud-observations-davis/701765 https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/SOE_PSC http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-617536 |
| Summary: | This indicator is no longer maintained, and is considered OBSOLETE. INDICATOR DEFINITION Lidar observations at Davis Station, Antarctica, are used to determine daily values of average percentage occurrence and upper and lower altitude limits for Polar Stratospheric Clouds. The occurrence values are evaluated from the total time clouds were detected divided by total observing time, expressed as a percentage. The altitude limits are the maximum and minimum altitudes at which clouds were detected during the time interval. TYPE OF INDICATOR There are three types of indicators used in this report: 1.Describes the CONDITION of important elements of a system; 2.Show the extent of the major PRESSURES exerted on a system; 3.Determine RESPONSES to either condition or changes in the condition of a system. This indicator is one of: CONDITION RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR SELECTION The formation of stratospheric clouds in the polar regions requires special conditions relating to temperature and chemistry. The clouds play a critical role in the depletion of ozone at high latitudes by initiating heterogeneous chemical reactions that convert chlorine and bromine compounds to reactive forms. A general cooling of the stratosphere is predicted to accompany anthropogenically enhanced greenhouse-gas warming of the lower atmosphere. This may provide conditions more favourable for the formation of stratospheric clouds. However, perturbations to stratospheric thermodynamics and chemistry can be caused by volcanic events. Long-term quantification of stratospheric cloud properties will aid in understanding and predicting natural and anthropogenic variability. DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAM Spatial scale: Davis Station, Antarctica. Temporal scale: Values for every day of lidar operation. Measurement technique: Lidar (532nm wavelength). The raw data used in the analysis of this indicator are obtained from observations by the Davis Lidar in Rayleigh and Doppler modes. In Rayleigh mode, the raw data consist of profiles of the intensity of 532nm laser backscatter versus altitude. In Doppler mode, spectral scans of 532nm laser backscatter versus altitude are obtained with a high-resolution Fabry-Perot spectrometer. These measurements are used to obtain the total backscatter versus altitude by collapsing the wavelength data down to one bin. RESEARCH ISSUES Changes in the extent and occurrence of stratospheric clouds has implications for the chemistry, structure and dynamics of the lower stratosphere. To obtain a more comprehensive picture of the spatial extent of these changes, the underlying physics, and future implications, the Davis observations should be assimilated into research incorporating a diverse body of observations and model predictions. Important additional data will come from in-situ and remote-sensing profiling of trace gas species (importantly, ozone, and compounds of nitrogen, chlorine, bromine and sulphur) and the thermal and dynamical behaviour of the atmosphere. |
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