Collaborative Research: Stratosphere-Troposphere Analyses of Regional Transport (START) Experiment (2008)

协同野外试验“平流层-对流层区域运输分析”（START08）将研究温带对流层上层和下层（ExUTLS）区域的化学和运输特征。该实验将在2008年春季进行，利用NSF/NCAR高性能机载环境研究平台（HIAPER），该平台具有开展研究所需的范围、续航时间和高度上限。实验的目的是利用原位化学、微物理和动力学测量、卫星数据和模型来更好地理解控制ExUTLS化学成分和微物理的多尺度动力学过程。特别地，研究将集中在作为输送边界的温带对流层顶的行为和关键的化学输送途径和相关的动力学过程。这些过程包括罗斯比波的破裂、天气尺度波的生长和衰减、对流层顶褶皱和温暖传送带、锋面系统的发展、重力波的产生和破裂以及深对流。此外，这些过程还控制着ExUTLS中冰云层的形成和演化。这项实地研究将使用示踪剂-示踪剂相关性作为UTLS区域运输的诊断工具。实验结果将包括一系列UT和LS之间化学转变的诊断，对热带外过渡层气团寿命的估计，以及耦合UT和LS的主要运输过程的示踪剂特征，这些过程决定了UTLS的结构和化学成分。一套小型微物理探测器将量化UT/LS中云的冰质量和水含量。与早期研究相比，START08的测量能力和平台得到了增强，将进一步深入了解示踪剂在目标动力学过程影响下的行为及其相互关系，并为建立测试模型的理论框架扩展数据库。该项目以重要的方式支持社区研究能力的发展。START08将在仪器/分析大气化学和数据分析方面培训研究生和博士后科学家，与建模者和其他科学团队成员合作完成。START08项目的研究成果将用于加强目前的大气科学研究生教育课程。额外的教育推广计划包括与正在进行的项目（例如，国家海洋科学碗和项目影响）的互动。

The collaborative field experiment, Stratosphere-Troposphere Analyses of Regional Transport (START08), will study the chemical and transport characteristics of the extratropical upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric (ExUTLS) region. The experiment, which will take place during the Spring 2008 time period, utilizes the NSF/NCAR High-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research (HIAPER) which has the range, endurance, and altitude ceiling necessary to conduct the research. The objective of the experiment is to use in situ chemical, microphysical, and dynamical measurements, satellite data, and models to better understand the multi-scale dynamical processes that control the chemical composition and microphysics of the ExUTLS. In particular, the investigation will focus on the behavior of the extratropical tropopause as a transport boundary and on key chemical transport pathways and the related dynamical processes. These processes include breaking of Rossby waves, the growth and decay of synoptic-scale waves, tropopause folds and warm conveyor belts, the development of frontal systems, initiation and breaking of gravity waves, and deep convection. In addition, these processes control the formation and evolution of the ice cloud layers in the ExUTLS. This field study will use tracer-tracer correlations as a diagnostic tool for transport in the UTLS region. The results of the experiment will include a set of diagnostics of chemical transitions between the UT and LS, an estimate of the lifetime of the air mass in the extra-tropical transition layer, and tracer characterizations of major transport processes that couple the UT and LS and which determine the structure and chemical composition of the UTLS. A small suite of microphysical probes will quantify the ice mass and water content of clouds in the UT/LS. With the enhanced measurement capability and platform compared to some earlier studies, START08 will provide more insight into the behavior of tracers and their relationships under the influence of targeted dynamical processes, and expand the database for establishing a theoretical framework for testing models. The project supports the development of community research capabilities in significant ways. START08 will train graduate students and post-doctoral scientists in both instrumental/analytical atmospheric chemistry and data analysis done collaboratively with modelers and other science team members. Research from the START08 project will be used to enhance current graduate education classes in atmospheric science. Additional educational outreach is planned that includes interaction with ongoing programs (e.g., National Ocean Science Bowl, and Project IMPACT).