Boundary-Layer Dynamics and Cloud-Radiative Studies in SHEBA: Development of an Atmospheric Lidar and a Wind Profiler

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9503654 Fairall Research supported by this grant is under the auspices of the Arctic Systems Science (ARCSS) Global Change Research Program and is jointly sponsored by the Division of Ocean Sciences and the Office of Polar Programs. Work to be performed represents preliminary steps towards a major 5-year research project named SHEBA, which is envisioned to study the heat budget of the Arctic Ocean and its impact on global change. The primary goals of SHEBA are: (1) to develop, test and implement models of arctic ocean-atmosphere-ice processes that demonstrably improve simulations of the present day arctic climate, including its variability, using General Circulation Models (GCMs), and (2) to improve the interpretation of satellite remote sensing data in the Arctic for analysis of the arctic climate system and provide reliable data for model input, model validation and climate monitoring. This work will develop, construct, and prepare for deployment two new instruments that will be built specifically for autonomous operation at the main SHEBA ice camp. These are a wind profiler to provide wind and temperature profiles continuously to 2.5 km altitude; and a lidar for cloud and aerosol monitoring which will measure optical depth and provide ice/water determinations. The instruments will be designed to optimize performance under Arctic conditions. This instrumentation will be useful in addressing an identified critical issue of SHEBA, the sea arctic cloud- radiation feedback mechanism.