Project
ABC Science Team Meeting,
Science
Team Members present:
Akimoto,
Carmichael, Crutzen, KR Kim, Mitra, Nakajima, Ramanathan, Rodhe.
Secretariat
Representatives:
Observers:
Howard
Diamond, NOAA
Young
J. Kim (KJIST,
Makoto
Koike (U of Tokyo, Japan), member of IGAC SSC
Yutaka
Kondo (U. of
Gianni
Tatari (Ev-K2-CNR, Italy)
A. Ramanathan proposed an Intercomparision and Model Validation Exercise for the 2 super sites at Maldives (MCO) and Gosan for Fall 2004. This will be an activity for the entire team.
Tentatively,
October 2004; duration at least 2-3 weeks
Focus: Black Carbon and Lidar Measurements. However, all of the ABC relevant measurements
and instruments will be used for the inter comparison study.
South
Asian instruments to be brought to MCO, East Asian instruments to Gosan
The
two sites will be linked up via tele-videoconference facility for lectures and
training sessions.
For
MCO
Overall
Coordinator: Ramanathan
For
Gosan
Overall
Coordinator: KR Kim
Action
Item, for everyone:
*Each
group, kindly inform H. Nguyen the name of contact person
Action
Item for Ram and everyone:
*Funds
to be raised to support travels and meeting expenses
Working
Groups to be formed within next 3 weeks
WG
Leaders:
Radiation: Nakajima
Aerosol:
Chemistry
(Ozone and CO): Akimoto
Action
Item:
Mitra
will ask for Indian O3 sondes
Ram
will ask S. Oltmans for launching O3 sondes.
VOTE: All present ST Members unanimously voted YES
in favor of the October 2004 Comparison and Validation Exercise.
B.
Ozone Forcing
Discussion:
Ram
will contact S. Oltmans of NOAA for launching
Ozone sondes.
Crutzen
will contact Ann Thompson next month in Boulder, Colorado. She is interested in vertical profiles in the
tropics, perhaps will launch sondes from MCO while Oltmans could do so from
Gosan?
It
was noted that there is no US funding for air chemistry. Oltmans could be interested since NOAA funds
US-ABC. Needs other countries to do O3
profiling (Mitra said IMD is interested and could be persuaded to launch O3
balloons from MCO). Thus the need of
inter-comparison of US and Indian ozone sondes.
It
is not certain if Ozone could be on par with Aerosol Forcing focus
Ozone
forcing not being US emphasis, but is important to Japan and India.
If
resources can be found, ST would consider adding this to be an official
objective of ABC
Also,
on a related issue, it was noted that CO is needed for to tag biomass
burning. Only surface is doable. Profiling requires aircraft. No US funding, needs other countries to do.
C.
ABC Data Protocol
It
was noted that Len Barrie of WMO is a ST member. ST invites him to lead the discussion to
ensure ABC data protocol closely match with GAW requirements. He will be invited to the next ABC Science
Team Meeting in New Delhi, February 04.
D.
New Observatories
1.
Kirgistan (proposed by Akimoto)
Kirgistan,
a high altitude station, could be important for long range transport of
European pollution into Central Asia.
But its location is quite far removed from the area of immediate concern
for ABC, thus it was unclear to ST as of what action is required. Kirgistan could be an "associate
site" to ABC, but the issue of long-range transport site in Central Asia
will be revisited at next meeting.
2.
Pune, India (proposed by Rodhe)
Rodhe
proposes precipitation chemistry at 5 ABC sites; 4 of which are collocated with
ABC sites, and Pune.
Pune
is important since ABC currently lacks a site in India, but the concern is data
availability. Mitra confirmed that while
processed data could be exchange, but raw data would be difficult. Rodhe assured ST that data of his instruments
(precipitation chemistry) at Pune will be available, and that IMT has agreed
that Pune be made an ABC site.
Decision: Add Pune to ABC as a "supplemental
site". ST instructs Nguyen to add
Pune on the ABC Site Map.
3.
Pimai, Thailand (proposed by Nakajima)
It
has been decided that the current site in Sri Samrong will be moved to
Pimai. This is a Japan-funded site.
In
addition, recognition by ABC is sought for the site’s resident scientist, Ms.
Thanna Boossersiri, to help with funding situation.
In
the discussion, ST members raised concerns about pending funding support to
potential site, ideally, it must be a long term site for ABC to accept since
ABC is a long term program. Longterm
could be defined as having at least 5 years of funding support.
Decision: Defer decision until completion of the move
from Sri Samrong to Pimai (in 6 months).
Could revisit at next meeting.
Ms. Boossersiri could be a "site scientist" for the Pimai site
of ABC.
4.
Pyramid Station at Mt Everest, Nepal. (G. Tartari via Crutzen)
At
this time, ST went into long discussion on proper classification of ABC
sites. Currently, there are 3
classes: supersite (full instrumentation
and calibration capability), main site (full instrumentation w/o calibration)
and supplementary site (sub set of instruments). There was discussion on adding a new class,
"exploratory site".
Pyramid,
or Ev-K2-CNR site, a part of 3 related site from the foot of Mt. Everest to 5.2
km with Pyramid being the highest.
Currently, there is no radiation measurement. Additional instrument could be added. While Pyramid, due to its unique location at
high altitude, could be the place for exciting discoveries, but its contribution
to ABC "core program" is unclear at the moment. It is therefore recognized as
"exploratory" site for ABC. To
assist Tartari in finding funding support, Ramanathan and Crutzen will write a
letter of endorsement to the Ev-K2-CNR Committee.
5.
Supersite in China (proposed by Guang-Yu Shi)
Since
Shi is not present, the issue was deferred until next meeting.
E.
New Members
Replacement
for Meng Fan with a CEPA-recommended scientist.
This issue was deferred until after the China visit; Ramanathan and
Crutzen will report to ST
New
Science Team member from India for aerosol.
Ramanathan proposed A. Jayaraman of ARL, Ahmadabad, India. After much discussion on the optimal number
of member per country, there was a proposal to add one more member each for
Japan (currently 2) and Korea (currently 1) when adding the third Indian. In view that other countries might also
request more members, thus the ST will be unwieldingly large, Ramanathan
withdrew his
proposal.
It
was decided that the issue of "improving country representation in
ST" be discussed at the next meeting.
Thus,
affiliations from Sri Lanka and other countries also be deferred until next
meeting.
F.
Impact study issues: deferred to next
meeting
G. Formal Decision Making Process
There
is a distinct need to make it clear to the outside world the separation of
science and policy. In addition, as more countries join ABC in the future, as
well as the possible increase of the number of members per country, there is a
concern on how to maintain ST’s effectiveness
Also,
currently there are several proposals that needs review and
endorsement/approval by ST. There must
be a proper mechanism set up for this important function.
The
ST requests that a sub committee of Akimoto, Carmichael and Rodhe to make
proposal to ST for better structuring of the decision making process.
H.
Joining IGAC.
Koike,
member of IGAC SSC, proposed ABC to be a part of IGAC, since there are many
overlaps. Also, MegaCities Asia has been
approved by IGAC while ABC is weak on this research. ST members commented on the funding
advantages for ABC programs in Japan, Korea and India, if ABC activities are
deemed to be those of IGAC (thus IGBP) because IGBP has already been
"approved" by the governments.
It
is noticed that, in turn, ABC may lose some of its independence in setting
scientific priorities since "tasks" will have to be approved by IGAC
SSC.
It
was decided there is no urgency in making a decision at this time until Crutzen
and Rodhe have discussed the matters with IGAC leadership, and also convey ST
invitation to all 3 IGAC co-Chairs to the next ABC meeting in February 04.
I.
Date and Venue of Next Meeting
February
2-4, 2004 in India, just prior to the TERI Meeting. Dr. Pachauri recommends a South Asian
workshop and will invite several regional scientists.
Feb
2: Scientific presentation by ST members
Feb
3: South Asian Workshop
Feb
4: Committee Meeting (morning only)
Ramanathan
will seek funding support for South Asian participants from US
sources
(NOAA has been very receptive) and urges other members to do the
same
in their countries
KR
Kim conveyed invitation to ABC ST to meet in Korea. After the next meeting in India, Korean
colleagues would like to host a meeting.
(END)