Frascati 26-27 nov 2009

A.-C. Engvall, A. Stohl, N. I. Kristiansen, A. Fahre Vik, K. Tørseth, and others

Norwegian Institue for Air ResearchNILU

Dept. Atmospheric and Climate Research (ATMOS)

www.nilu.no

FLEXPART group at NILU

Research projects within our group focus on various aspects of atmospheric transport - a few examples:

• Arctic pollutants – transport linked to ground-based measurements as well as aircraft measurements (Zeppelin station, POLARCAT).

• Antarctic: Transport linked to Ground-based measurements at Troll station.

• Determine the mean and variation of the combined oceanic and atmospheric heat transports toward Svalbard and the European Arctic (POCAHONTAS).

• …and more information can be find at http://transport.nilu.no

Seasonal variation of Arctic Haze

Joranger and Ottar, Geophys. Res. Lett., 1984

Climate effects of Arctic pollutionQuinn et al., ACPD, 2008

• AMAP Expert Group on SLCF• Arctic Council Task Force on SLCF• IPCC activities on Black Carbon

However: very large uncertainties; we need to understand sources and relevant processes better

Picture courtesy: Ann-Christine Engvall

Transport of agriculture fire emission plumesStohl et al., ACPD, 2007

At Zeppelin, new records set for practically all measured compounds

Even for ozone and aerosol optical depth, which are both measured since 18 years

Dramatic effects on pollution levels

Stohl et al., ACPD, 2007

Eckhardt et al., ACPD, 2007

Long-term monitoring of various persistent organic pollutants (POPs) at Zeppelin

Highest concentrations observed during biomass

burning episodes:

Green: Alaskan firesOrange: Agricultural fires in

Eastern Europe

Volcanic eruptions• Emissions of SO2 can affect the climate and

volcanic ash is a major hazard to aviation.

• Goal: Simulate the transport of the emitted species and predict the affected areas.

• Problem: The model simulation require a vertical emission height profile, which is unknown.

• Satellite data normally only provide total columns or very poorly resolved vertical profiles.

• Solution: Use a dispersion model, satellite observations of SO2 during the first few hours/days after the eruption, and an inversion algorithm to determine an optimal emission height profile of the eruption.

Case study: Kasatochi Volcano, Alaska

Eruption: 7-8 August 2008

Significant amount of SO2 emitted

(1.5 – 2.5 Tg)

Satellite observations from

GOME-2

OMI

AIRS

Challenges: o Temporal resolution:

Only 1-2 overpasses each day observing the SO2 cloud.

o Retrievals:

The satellite retrievals provide

different total columns of SO2.

Case study: Kasatochi Volcano, Alaska

Inversion result: FLEXPART transport simulation:

Future/ongoing work: Inversion results for volcanic ash.

Requirements: Satellite measurements cover the region of the volcano. Good temporal resolution of the satellite data for the hours/days after

the eruption Good retrievals of both SO2 and volcanic ash.

Motivation for investigation satellite based measurements• Data coverage of regular monitoring network not sufficient to

answer questions like:• How large is the contribution of intercontinental transport of Air

Pollution of regional-scale Air Quality ?

• In particular in the eastern part of the EMEP region, central Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. Sites in North Africa would be valuable. …. no data over oceans …

• Satellite data are available and should be used? Request for additional data sources such as airborne

measurements and remote sensing data Evaluation of the SYNAER data product for regional air quality

monitoring over Europe

The SYNAER (SYNergetic Aerosol Retrieval) data product• The SYNAER product

Provided by DLR through ESA-GSE project PROMOTE “European multi-annual PM record”

see Holzer-Popp et al., ACPD, 2008

Synergistic retrieval of aerosol properties based AATSR and SCIAMACHY (and ATSR/GOME)

Radiometer used to estimate AOD

Spectrometer used to estimate aerosol composition

Surface levels of PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.5 given for cloud-free pixels on SCIAMACHY-grid

Requirements• Close interaction between data provider and data user is

beneficial – such cooperation should be encouraged by space agencies for current and future missions.

Use of satellite data at NILU• Examples have been shown how satellite data is used for analysing air

mass transport of pollutants with the FLEXPART model.

• The inversion algorithm in FLEXPART (Stohl et al. 2009) is suitable also for incorporating satellite data and that we will do exactly that in the framework of SOGG-EA (Sources of Greenhouse Gases in East Asia).

• EMEP programme: Validation and usage of satellite based AOD and PM measurements – SYNAER• Evaluation of different SYNAER versions• Validation against EMEP surface measurements and EMEP model

Thank you for your attention!