Breakout Summary Report
ARM/ASR User and PI Meeting
2 - 6 May 2016
MOSAIC
4 May 2016
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
0
Matthew Shupe
4 May 2016
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
0
Matthew Shupe
Breakout Description
This session was meant to inform the ARM/ASR community about MOSAiC and to engage the appropriate people in discussions on specific aspects of the project that could use more guidance, insight, and perspective. The session started with Matthew Shupe providing an overview presentation. This included: a summary of the key science and operational objectives of MOSAiC; details on the implementation (ship logistics, experimental design, timing, drift of the station, basic measurements, etc.); a vision for engaging other agencies in the project; and some concept of the path forward. This presentation offered the opportunity for specific questions and comments throughout, in a way that supported general discussion. This fed into broader discussions (outlined below). A second presentation was given by David Painemal representing the satellite products that can be produced in support of MOSAiC by the Minnis-Langley team. Following presentations a few key discussions occurred, in addition to general comments and questions.Main Discussion
Modeling perspectives. Both during and directly following the session there were discussions about how MOSAiC interfaces, and can interface, with various modeling approaches. In particular it was noted that the MOSAiC design will support multi-scale modeling ranging from very high resolution for studying processes, through large-eddy simulations such as LASSO and other approaches, to regional model development (one such model is the Regional Arctic System Model – RASM, which has been largely supported by DOE modeling programs), and finally to coupled- system and large-scale modeling. It was noted that the modeling programs led by both Renu Joseph and Dorothy Koch have objectives that are very relevant for MOSAiC and that concerted efforts should be made to bridge across these programs and ensure that ARM measurements and ASR analyses feed into DOE-supported model development. Numerous specific individuals who can help to make these connections were noted, including Phil Rasch, Wieslaw Maslowski, Elizabeth Hunke, and others.Aerosol measurements and implications. There is some heightened interest in the aerosol measurements for MOSAiC, both because many recognize the great value in these measurements (against a history of very few central Arctic aerosol measurements) and because there will be a number of operational challenges for making good aerosol measurements. Challenges include the limited capacity for the 2-3 on site techs to operate equipment, limited opportunity for site visits, the complexity of some instruments, the influence of local pollution from the ship itself, pollution on the ice, and others. It is clear that a more detailed assessment of aerosol observations will be needed, leading to more specific prioritization and operations plans. For example, the measurement approach relative to local pollution events was discussed. One possibility is to simply keep operating all the time and to filter the data based on signatures of fresh exhaust. Another approach is to attempt to identify pollution events and to stop the inlet pump. To make more informed decisions on these points will require more information on the amount of pollution that is anticipated and the expected impact it will have on specific instruments. One comment was made that we could put a tracer/identifier in the fuel that will be used so that its pollution can be identified after the fact.
Along these similar lines, there was interest in black carbon measurements: specifically, in the air using the SP2 and relating this to the surface. It was noted that MOSAiC could be a natural experiment for black carbon since the ship will be a source. The effective concentration of black carbon on the snow/ice surface will diminish with distance from the ship, such that it would be possible to measure the net impacts on the surface as a function of black carbon concentration/distance. This will provide insight into black carbon effects and the potential impact of increased shipping in the Arctic.
While not discussed in great detail, the role of radars in MOSAiC was highlighted as an area that will need to be addressed in the future. Specifically we will need to have a better idea of what specifically is possible in terms of deploying radars on the ship and how/where they will be installed. This will provide some bounds for the more general discussion of radar operations.
Lastly, it was noted that MOSAiC is serving as one means to support the former EU-DOE collaboration workshop that DOE hosted a few years ago. Some of the European collaborators for MOSAiC were part of that workshop and we are developing the type of collaborations that will ultimately support some of the intent of that workshop.