The AOE2001 meteorological experiment in the high Arctic

During the summer of 2001, the Swedish ice-breaker Oden sailed for the high Arctic on a research mission. The total science program covered marine biology, atmospheric chemistry, aerosol science and boundary-layer meteorology. The motivation for the experimental program was to understand possible biogenic sources of aerosols and CCN in the pack-ice and consequent cloud formation, and to better understand the mixing processes in the high Arctic summertime PBL.

The experimental program consisted of a number of shorter research stations during the two months cruise and an ice-drift program; during three weeks in August, an at-mos-pheric program was carried out on a 1.5 x 3 km ice floe, starting out at 89˚N, 0˚E and drifting with the winds and the current.

The atmospheric measurements were set up to monitor the state of the lower atmosphere continuously and to take more detailed measurements during selected periods. The remote sensing program facilitated the continuous monitoring, and included a 915MHz wind profiler, an S-band cloud radar, two sodar systems (one two-beam and one momo static) and a scanning infrared radiometer for temperature profiles. The surface layer program included profile and turbulence instrumentation on a 18-m mast on the ice, a microbarograph array and two remote PAM-station, ~ 8 km away on separate ice floes. A tethered sounding program with kite/balloon borne met. sensors, an aerosol pack-age and a turbulence-flux package, was also in place. Regular radiosoundings were made every six hours and a standard automatic met. station onboard the ice breaker provided background measurements. A large suit of atmospheric chemistry and aerosol measurements were also part of the program.

This presentation will present this experiment and provide examples of boundary layer data taken in the very northern Arctic.