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

合作实地实验“平流层-对流层区域传输分析”（START 08）将研究对流层上部和平流层下部的对流层外区域的化学和传输特性。该实验将于2008年春季进行，使用NSF/NCAR高性能环境研究机载仪器平台（HIAPER），该平台具有进行研究所需的航程、续航力和高度上限。该实验的目的是使用原位化学，微物理和动力学测量，卫星数据和模型，以更好地了解控制ExUTLS化学成分和微物理的多尺度动力学过程。特别是，调查将集中在对流层顶外的行为作为一个传输边界和关键的化学传输路径和相关的动力过程。这些过程包括Rossby波的破碎、天气尺度波的增长和衰减、对流层顶褶皱和暖传送带、锋面系统的发展、重力波的产生和破碎以及深对流。此外，这些过程控制着ExUTLS中冰云层的形成和演变。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。实验的结果将包括一组诊断UT和LS之间的化学转换，估计的寿命的空气质量在热带以外的过渡层，和示踪剂表征的主要运输过程耦合UT和LS和确定的结构和化学成分的UTLS。一个小的微物理探测器套件将量化UT/LS中云的冰质量和含水量。与一些早期的研究相比，START 08的测量能力和平台得到了增强，它将为示踪剂的行为及其在目标动力学过程影响下的关系提供更多的见解，并扩展数据库，以建立测试模型的理论框架。该项目以重要方式支持社区研究能力的发展。START 08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，并与建模人员和其他科学团队成员合作进行。START 08项目的研究将用于加强目前大气科学的研究生教育课程。计划进行额外的教育推广，包括与正在进行的项目（例如，国家海洋科学碗和项目影响）。

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).