Stratosphere-Climate Links with Emphasis on the UTLS, Scout-03
Abstract
The central aim of this research is to provide best scientific knowledge for international assessments on ozone depletion and climate change for the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols. These protocols, and the associated energy, environment and emission policies, are of fundamental importance to European quality of life and competitiveness. We are providing new knowledge to the EU and national governments to develop the European position in discussions related to the Protocols with policies for sustainable development. SCOUT-O3 maintains the excellence of the European atmospheric science community and leads to further integration of its activities. SCOUT-O3 involves the research efforts of 59 partners and more than 100 scientific groups and takes full advantage of new and existing research facilities developed at the national level. Reliable prediction of the future evolution of the ozone layer and surface UV is urgently required as a basis for informed decisions by European policy makers. The state of the ozone layer over the next decades will depend on the interplay between climate change and the impact and evolution of ozone depleting substances such as CFCs. The Montreal Protocol has successfully reduced emissions and atmospheric concentrations of CFCs, which should return to their pre- ozone hole concentrations by about 2050. However, the ozone layer will most likely not return to its pre-ozone hole state and so the central question of the Montreal process – how and when will ozone and UV radiation recover as CFC concentrations fall? – remains. Indeed, in order to provide essential advice to policy makers, the answer to that question is required within the next years. The research in this ambitious integrated project is focused on strengthening the European predictive capability through improving the use of coupled chemistry/climate models (CCMs). An improved understanding of model performance is gained from on-going validation and comparisons from existing and new measurements. Interpretation of the measurements is achieved using a variety of models operating on all spatial scales. Lack of knowledge about the tropical stratosphere and upper troposphere is addressed through tropical field campaigns involving aircraft and balloons to investigate the detailed mechanisms by which air passes from the troposphere to the stratosphere. New fundamental information about chemical and microphysical processes gained from laboratory studies will improve the models used to interpret these measurements. Understanding of the larger scale importance is gained through analysis of satellite measurements (e.g. from ENVISAT and CALIPSO), meteorological analyses and other global fields. Denitrification in the polar vortices is being studied to remove one of the major uncertainties regarding polar ozone loss. Better understanding of processes in the UTLS through modeling and data analysis and studies of the long-term variability in extratropical large scale transport are also being performed to improve long-term predictions of mid- and high latitude ozone and UV. Past and present variability in UV radiation is determined using re-evaluated and quality controlled data sets. Focussed studies involving measurements and modeling are used to improve understanding of how clouds and aerosols modify atmospheric radiation. The integration of process studies within a modeling framework will enable SCOUT-03 to analyse and predict the current status and future evolution of the ozone layer and surface UV-levels with high confidence. A comprehensive range of scenarios is used in the CCMs to provide the basis for a comprehensive study of the evolution and feedback of the coupled chemistry / climate system.
Climate Change Ozone
Publikationen
Influence of ground albedo and cloudiness on ground UV at the Sonnblick observatory (3106 m, Austria): model-measurement comparison.
Autoren: Simic, S., Weihs, P., Kromp-Kolb, H., Vacek, A., Laube, W. Jahr: 2005
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Factors affecting changes of spectral UV irradiance at the Sonnblick Observatory (3106 m, Austria)
Autoren: Simic,S., Weihs, P.,Kromp-Kolb, H.,Vacek, A.,Laube, W. Jahr: 2005
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Rekonstruktion der erythemwirksamen UV-Bestrahlungsstärke in Österreich: ein Vergleich zwischen Hochgebirge und Wiener Ballungsraum
Autoren: Rieder, H.E., Holawe, F., Simic, S., Blumthaler, M., Krzyscin, J.W. Wagner, J., Schmalwieser, A., Weihs, P. Jahr: 2008
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
UV-changes in Austria: A comparison between alpine and urban regions
Autoren: Rieder, H.E., Holawe F., Simic S., Blumthaler M., Krzyscin J.W., Schmalwieser A.W., Wagner J.E., Weihs P. Jahr: 2008
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Reconstruction technique of erythemal UV-radiation and future UV prediction
Autoren: J.E. Wagner, H.E. Rieder, S. Simic, P. Weihs Jahr: 2009
Journal articles
Reconstruction of erythemal UV-radiation and prediction of future UV at two sites in Austria
Autoren: Weihs, P., Rieder, H.E., Wagner, J.E., Simic, S. Jahr: 2009
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Reconstruction of erythemal UV-doses for two stations in Austria: a comparison between alpine and urban regions
Autoren: Rieder, HE; Holawe, F; Simic, S; Blumthaler, M; Krzyscin, JW; Wagner, JE; Schmalwieser, AW; Weihs, P Jahr: 2008
Journal articles
Reconstruction of past and prediction of future erythemal UV-radiation at two sites in Austria
Autoren: Philipp Weihs, Harald Rieder, Jochen Wagner, Stana Simic, and Martin Dameris Jahr: 2010
Journal articles
Prediction of future erythemal UV-radiation for Austria
Autoren: Harald Rieder, Philipp Weihs, Jochen E. Wagner, Stana Simic, Martin Dameris, Eugene Rozanov Jahr: 2011
Journal articles
Prediction of future erythemal UV-radiation for Austria
Autoren: Philipp Weihs, Harald E. Rieder, Jochen E. Wagner, Stana Simic, Martin Dameris, Eugene Rozanov Jahr: 2011
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Philipp Weihs
Ao.Univ.Prof. Mag.rer.nat. Dr.rer.nat. Philipp Weihs
philipp.weihs@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81424
Project Leader
01.05.2005 - 31.08.2009
Stana Simic
Mag. Dr.rer.nat. Stana Simic
stana.simic@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81430
Project Staff
01.05.2005 - 31.08.2009
BOKU partners
External partners
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
none
partner
Finnish Meteorological Institute
none
partner
German Weather Service
none
partner
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
none
partner
Netherlands National Institute for Public Health
none
partner
University of Graz, Institut of Geophysics, Astrophysics and Meteorology
none
partner
Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Sektion für Biomedizinische Physik
none
partner