The LAR describes scientific activities and accomplishments within the three NESL divisions: ACD,
CGD,
and MMM.
We encourage all interested groups to review the annual report:
advisory panels, user groups, affiliate scientists, workshop attendees,
visitor groups, faculty, post-doc alumnae, and sponsored research entities.
(January 23)
Progress in Understanding Climate-Relevant Processes in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere
The extratropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (Ex‐UTLS) is a transition region between the stratosphere and the troposphere. In this region, dynamics, chemistry, clouds and radiation are strongly coupled, which makes this region important for chemistry-climate interactions. Significant progress has been made in understanding the climate-relevant processes in this region during the last decade, assisted by a suite of new observational studies.
Satellite-based estimates of reduced CO and CO2 emissions due to traffic restrictions during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
The MOPITT multispectral CO product along with model simulations from WRF-Chem have recently been applied to analyze emissions of both CO and CO2 during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The results suggest that urban traffic controls instituted during the Olympics significantly reduced emissions of CO and CO2. A manuscript by H. Worden, et al., describing this pioneering work has recently been submitted to Geophysical Research Letters.
New ozonesonde climatology between 1995 and 2009
A new ozonesonde climatology for the period 1995-2009 was compiled for model evaluation and comparison to other observations [Tilmes et al., 2011]. This climatology allows evaluating the performance of ozone especially in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. Various models still show significant shortcomings to reproduce the structure and seasonality of ozone, one of the most important trace gases in the atmosphere. This study also points to the importance of the comparison of distributions in addition to mean values.
Elevated Stratopause Events
The Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) simulates many features of the stratosphere, including the very active dynamics in Northern Hemisphere winter. During midwinter in some years, there are major breakdowns of the polar winter vortex known as sudden stratospheric warmings. The frequency and development of these events simulated in WACCM are similar to observations.
NCAR and UCAR News
BOULDER—Equipped with specialized lasers and GPS technology, scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) are working with colleagues to solve a critical wintertime weather mystery: how to accurately measure the amount of snow on the ground.
BOULDER—A new international study may answer contentious questions about the onset and persistence of Earth’s Little Ice Age, a period of widespread cooling that lasted for hundreds of years until the late 19th century.
BOULDER—Improved forecasting of winter storms and innovative technological systems to help keep winter drivers safe are among the goals of new work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and collaborating organizations.
BOULDER—The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has developed a highly detailed wind energy forecasting system with Xcel Energy, enabling the utility to capture energy from turbines far more effectively and at lower cost. The system, which Xcel Energy formally took over last month, saves ratepayers several million dollars yearly.
BOULDER—Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper will present his office's annual awards for "high impact research" on November 15 to teams from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and three other Colorado-based research centers for breakthroughs in atmospheric science, renewable energy, sustainability, and disease prevention.
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