Enhanced automated meteorological observations at the Canadian Arctic Weather Science (CAWS) supersites

• Published in: Earth System Science Data
• Main Authors: Z. Mariani, L. Huang, R. Crawford, J.-P. Blanchet, S. Hicks-Jalali, E. Mekis, L. Pelletier, P. Rodriguez, K. Strawbridge
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2022
• Subjects: Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Geology; QE1-996.5; Arctic; Canada; Climate change; Iqaluit
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4995-2022; https://doaj.org/article/db2b8d82d19b4e3292bdc25dc59015e6

The changing Arctic climate is creating increased economic, transportation, and recreational activities requiring reliable and relevant weather information. However, the Canadian Arctic is sparsely observed, and processes governing weather systems in the Arctic are not well understood. There is a recognized lack of meteorological data to characterize the Arctic atmosphere for operational forecasting and to support process studies, satellite calibration/validation, search and rescue operations (which are increasing in the region), high-impact weather (HIW) detection and prediction, and numerical weather prediction (NWP) model verification and evaluation. To address this need, Environment and Climate Change Canada commissioned two supersites, one in Iqaluit (63.74 ∘ N, 68.51 ∘ W) in September 2015 and the other in Whitehorse (60.71 ∘ N, 135.07 ∘ W) in November 2017 as part of the Canadian Arctic Weather Science (CAWS) project. The primary goals of CAWS are to provide enhanced meteorological observations in the Canadian Arctic for HIW nowcasting (short-range forecast) and NWP model verification, evaluation, and process studies and to provide recommendations on the optimal cost-effective observing system for the Canadian Arctic. Both sites are in provincial/territorial capitals and are economic hubs for the region; they also act as transportation gateways to the north and are in the path of several common Arctic storm tracks. The supersites are located at or next to major airports and existing Meteorological Service of Canada ground-based weather stations that provide standard meteorological surface observations and upper-air radiosonde observations; they are also uniquely situated in close proximity to frequent overpasses by polar-orbiting satellites. The suite of in situ and remote sensing instruments at each site is completely automated (no on-site operator) and operates continuously in all weather conditions, providing near-real-time data to operational weather forecasters, the public, and researchers via ...