ARM West Antarctic Radiation Experiment (AWARE)A Joint NSF-DOE ARM Mobile Facility Campaign

Lead: Dan Lubin, Scripps

Co-InvestigatorsDavid Bromwich, Ohio State

Lynn Russell, Scripps

Johannes Verlinde, Penn State University

Andrew Vogelmann, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Campaign Period

November 2015 – January 2017

Linear Trends in Antarctic Near-Surface Air Temperature 1958-2011

Nicolas and Bromwich (2014)

Motivation

• West Antarctica is one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth

• Its warming is closely linked with global sea level rise

• Known potential instability in a warmer climate (Joughin and Alley, 2011)

• Its rapid warming does not have a comprehensive explanation

• Unlike Greenland, it does not show unequivocal signs of atmos. warming

• Dynamical mechanisms might vary with season and location

• Likely involves teleconnections with the subtropics and tropics

• No substantial atmospheric science or climatological work on

West Antarctica since the decade following the 1957 IGY

• Information limited to several automatic weather stations

• Lack upper air measurements since ~1967

• Need observations to understand details of the surface energy balance

AWARE Site Locations

McMurdo Deployment & Objectives

November 2015 – January 2017

Detailed cloud and aerosol observations with the most advanced

atmospheric science equipment available today.

Main Objectives:

• To understand the unique Antarctic manifestations of mixed-phase

clouds and aerosols, and their effect on the radiation budget;

• Use the most advanced atmospheric instrumentation available to

examine cloud properties.

High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL )

Ka-band ARM zenith radar (KAZR)

Ka-Band Scanning ARM Cloud Radar (KASACR)

X-Band Scanning ARM Cloud Radar (XSACR)

WAIS Deployment & Objectives

December 2015 – 15 January 2016 (Summer)

Observations of cloud, upper air, and surface energy budget

Main Objective:

• Characterize the surface energy budget and atmospheric profiles of

temperature and humidity for understanding warming mechanisms over

West Antarctica.

Influence of local cloud radiative forcing

Large-scale influences of subtropical and tropical teleconnections

AWARE WAIS Radiosonde Data

Preliminary data from Dan Lubin, Scripps

ARM Measurements

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ARM deploys comprehensive instrument suites deployed at locations around the world. Data are publicly available.

There are two ARM sites during AWARE – at McMurdo and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Primary ARM Facility at McMurdo

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The most extensive set of atmospheric observations ever deployed to Antarctica.• Multiple Radars and lidars for cloud, aerosol, water vapor,

and wind profiles• Excellent aerosol observations including cloud condensation

nuclei characteristics. • Detailed measurements of surface energy budget and

meteorology

The WAIS Ice Camp

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The WAIS site also includes a very extensive set of measurements – most of which have never before been available for this region.

• Lidar for cloud profiles

• Radiometers for the surface energy budget and water vapor profiles.

• Surface meteorology

• Four radiosonde launches per day for profiles of temperature, water vapor, and wind.

Deployment Challenges

• Hardening of equipment for >120 mph winds and sustained temperatures of -50°C.

• Shipment of multiple 20’ containers via aircraft

• Narrow deployment window to WAIS

• Deployment of equipment to remote WAIS site

• Physical demands required medical screening

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Preliminary data from McMurdo

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Observations from 12/7/15

Cloud profiles from the lidar(top) and radar (middle)And time series of downwelling infrared (bottom) for the same 24-hour period.

Data are preliminary – have not been quality assessed.

35 GHz Cloud Radar

Hei

ght

(km

)

Summary

A dearth of meteorological studies in Antarctica has hampered climate models

and predictions of climate change; AWARE aims to change that

McMurdo

Most comprehensive cloud observations ever in the Antarctic.

Excellent aerosol observations including cloud condensation nuclei

characteristics.

WAIS

First-ever detailed WAIS surface radiation measurements.

First-ever WAIS surface cloud observations.

Data are now flowing and will soon be available for public use

Will create a legacy dataset that will serve

the community for years to come.