Transcript Recommendations from the Eight Meeting of Ozone Research

8th ORM Recommendations
Recommendations from the
8th Meeting of the Ozone Research Managers
of the Parties to the Vienna Convention
for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
Michael J. Kurylo
Chairman, 8th ORM Meeting
Goddard Earth Sciences, Technology, and Research
Universities Space Research Association
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD USA 20771
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
The 8th ORM recommendations were
set against the background from the
2010 Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion
• Specifically, the complexities of ozone and UV science
and their interactions with changing climate require
- Continuation and expansion of systematic measurement and
analysis capabilities for tracking the evolution of ozone- and
climate-related source gases and parameters.
- Detection and tracking the stabilization and expected
recovery of stratospheric ozone from the influence of ODSs
while responding to a changing climate.
- Attribution of changes in radiation forcing to changes in the
ozone profile or to effects of climate change.
- Derivation of a global record of ground-level UV radiation.
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Research Needs
Many questions remain about the expected ozone recovery
from the influence of ODSs and on the interrelationship
between ozone and climate variability /change.
• Studies to quantify the chemical, radiative, and dynamical
factors contributing to ozone layer evolution in a changing
atmosphere (including studies of the consequences of
climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies)
• Studies to investigate the roles and impacts of changes in
stratospheric ozone and ODSs on surface climate
• Studies to improve our understanding of changes in aerosols
relative to changes in volcanic activity, air pollution sources,
and proposed geoengineering approaches
• Studies of the effects of solar-cycle influences on climate
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Research Needs (continued)
• Studies to understand the emissions (natural & anthropogenic),
banks, and the tropospheric / stratospheric evolution of ODSs,
their substitutes, and other climate-related trace gases
• Studies of the effects of climate change on the sources, sinks,
and lifetime of such trace gases and of very short-lived species
(especially in the tropics)
• Laboratory photochemical, kinetic, and spectroscopic studies
relating to ozone evolution and its monitoring
• Studies to improve the standardization and consistency of
cross sections of ozone and related species in different
wavelength regions
• Studies to resolve the differences between tropical total-ozone
trend estimates and those derived from satellite profiles
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Research Needs (continued)
• Studies that allow the quantitative disaggregation of the
factors affecting UV radiation at the Earth’s surface, so that
the influences of factors other than ozone can be better
assessed
• Studies on the effects of stratospheric ozone change, and the
resulting changes in UV radiation on human health,
ecosystems, and materials
• Studies of the interactions between the effects of changes in
UV radiation and those of climate change
• Studies that look at the environmental effects of ODS
substitutes and their degradation products on other factors
that affect human health and the environment
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Systematic Observations
These observations are critical to understanding and
monitoring long-term changes in atmospheric
composition & the associated response in ground-level
UV radiation. Global data networks (ground-based and
satellite) provide the backbone of our understanding of
ozone, ozone- and climate-related trace gases, and UV.
Ground-Based Networks:
• Redistribution of measurements from instrument-rich sites
to areas that are poorly populated with instruments (such as
in the tropics, central Asia, and southern mid-latitudes)
• Preference for Brewers in ozone and UV monitoring
expansion along with the co-location of column- and profilemeasuring instruments
• Expansion of Umkehr ozone-profiling capabilities
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Systematic Observations (continued)
Ground-Based Networks (continued):
• Need to establish and implement Standard Operating
Procedures for all instruments in network operations
• Need to re-evaluate microwave ozone data to ensure
adequate data quality in the upper stratosphere in
advance of possibly adding new stations in the Polar
Regions where Umkehr data are not available
• Concerns over the decrease in ozonesonde stations
reporting data to the central data archive (especially over
Asia, the Arctic, and North America)
• Need to increase ozonesonde altitude coverage (altitudes
up to 30 km)
• Need for simultaneity of ozone and water vapor profiles in
balloon soundings
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Systematic Observations (continued)
Ground-Based Networks (continued):
•Continuity of remote-sensing networks providing profile
data on ozone and ozone / climate-related species.
•Infusion of newly developed instrumental capabilities into
these networks, which provide the primary non-space-based
observations
•Continuity of in situ networks for observing ODSs, ODS
substitutes, and GHGs as well as the expansion of
monitoring capabilities for newly emerging chemicals
•Need to maintain balloon-based measurements of ODSs to
check on the behavior of these substances in a changing
climate
•Need for continued measurement of SF6 and CO2 in support
of age-of-air studies
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Systematic Observations (continued)
Satellite Networks:
•Continuation of solar backscatter UV observations (a key
baseline set)
•High vertical resolution profiles for ozone and key
molecules via limb viewing (need to understand ΔO3 vs.
ΔODS in a changing climate)
•Special attention for N2O as an important substance leading
to ozone depletion
•Need for systematic water vapor profile measurements as it
is a strong driver for decadal climate variability
•Gap filling missions providing high vertical resolution
measurements of ozone and ozone-related parameters (e.g.,
solar occultation FTS and limb emission instruments)
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Systematic Observations (continued)
Satellite Networks (continued):
•Continuation of stratospheric aerosol measurements
•Measurements of solar irradiance outside of the
atmosphere and its associated indices
•Need for an assessment of current temperature profile
data records and measurement capabilities leading
(where appropriate) to recommendations for new
temperature measurement systems
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Systematic Observations (continued)
Data Record Priorities:
• Need for a systematic understanding of the differences
and synergies between data sets derived using different
observational techniques
• Need for better integration of ground-level, ground-based
remote sensing, and satellite data
• Need for further development of methods and tools for
improved integration of complementary data having
different scales, resolution, etc.
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Data Archiving
Several achievements were made in response to the
7th ORM Recommendations. These include:
• Dobson Data Quality Workshop (Czech Republic; Feb.
2011)
• Adoption of HDF for NDACC archiving (in progress)
• Template for submission of level-0 Dobson data and
metadata (approval by SAG-Ozone Oct. 2011)
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Data Archiving (continued)
Many 7th ORM recommendations remained relevant at
the time of the 8th ORM Meeting and were reemphasized
and expanded upon.
•Different uses of ozone and UV data impose different
archiving requirements
•Funding agencies need to recognize archiving as resourceintensive and part of the measurement program and should
require timely submission.
•Enhance linkage among data centers (O3, UV, GHG, met etc.)
•Accommodate different versions of measurement records
and inform users of new versions of the data.
•High priority for level-0 and metadata archiving – essential
for any reprocessing
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Data Archiving (continued)
• Availability of historical data is essential for understanding
the coupling between pre-1980 ozone changes and
changes in surface UV and climate. Resources required.
• Need for comprehensive reporting of national ODS
production and consumption to improve emission
inventories
• Need for workshops to provide training on metadata
collection and on the processes for data archiving.
Possible communications role for both the WMO
Permanent Representatives and / or the Ozone Research
Managers.
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Capacity Building
Progress was made subsequent to the 7th ORM. Key
activities include:
• Relocation of Dobson instruments (including
refurbishment & calibration and training of observers)
• Transfer of knowledge & technology from the World
Dobson Calibration Center (U.S.) to Africa and South
America
• Numerous Brewer calibrations supported by the WMO
Brewer Trust Fund and by Canada
• Educational workshops under the auspices of UNEP
and WMO-GAW
• Contributions to Vienna Convention Trust Fund either
directly or in-kind (such as via twinning relationships)
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014
8th ORM Recommendations
Capacity Building
Many of the recommendations from the 7th ORM
remained relevant at the time of the 8th ORM Meeting.
Specific additional recommendations were made to
increase capacity in developing countries.
• Make surplus equipment available for redeployment
(proposed mechanism under WMO-GAW)
• Support for attendance at several specific workshops
and symposiums
• Development of a set of metrics by the Scientific
Assessment Panels to assess effectiveness of
capacity-building activities
• Increased role for National Ozone Unit Officers – focal
point for information distribution, coordination with
UNEP OzonAction Programme on establishment of
web-based training courses
9th ORM Meeting; Geneva, Switzerland; 14-16 May, 2014