Study of North Polar Vortex Phenomena

该奖项将继续支持对冬季北极平流层涡旋的研究，该研究的重点是被认为与极地平流层臭氧消耗有关的现象。测量是由气球携带的仪器进行的，其中一些是专门为此目的而设计的。这些仪器将测量臭氧浓度、水蒸气浓度（霜点法）、温度、压力、硝酸、气溶胶和极地平流层云。气溶胶和云的测量将由一种名为后向散射探空仪的新仪器进行，该仪器是由首席研究员为这项工作开发的。气球将从加拿大西北部的阿勒特放飞；海斯岛，苏联；苏联的科拉半岛；以及加拿大西北部的Frobisher湾。前两个地点位于极地涡旋的正常位置，而其余两个地点位于涡旋的边缘，并且在冬季中期有一些阳光。这项研究的目的是阐明极地平流层云和气溶胶在破坏臭氧中所起的作用。这个项目涉及美国、加拿大和苏联科学家之间的合作。这个项目非常不寻常，因为它包括一名苏联联合首席研究员，尽管没有交换资金。该项目已被中央情报局COMEX推荐批准。

This award will continue support of research on the wintertime north polar stratospheric vortex, which is focused on phenomena that are believed to be related to polar stratospheric ozone depletion. The measurements are made by balloon borne instruments, some of which are especially designed for this purpose. The instruments will measure ozone concentration, water vapor concentration by the frost point method, temperature, pressure, nitric acid, and aerosols and polar stratospheric clouds. The aerosol and cloud measurements will be made by a new instrument called a backscattersonde that has been developed by the principal investigator for this work. The balloons will be flown from Alert, NWT, Canada; Heiss Island, USSR; the Kola Peninsula, USSR; and Frobisher Bay, NWT, Canada. The first two sites are located well within the normal position of the polar vortex while the remaining two are on the edge of the vortex and in a region where there is some sunlight at mid-winter. The goal of the research is to elucidate the role that polar stratospheric clouds and aerosols play in the destruction of ozone. This project involves a collaboration between U.S., Canadian and Soviet scientists. The project is very unusual in that it includes a Soviet Co-Principal Investigator, though there is no exchange of funds. The project has been recommended for approval by COMEX of the CIA.