The First Fixed-wing Aircraft for Chinese Antarctic Expeditions: Airframe, modifications, Scientific Instrumentation and Applications

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangbin Cui ◽  
Jamin S. Greenbaum ◽  
Lucas H. Beem ◽  
Jingxue Guo ◽  
Gregory Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
System Integration ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Geophysical Investigation ◽  
Scientific Instrumentation ◽  
Scientific Exploration ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Polar Research Institute ◽  
Antarctic Research

The Antarctic Ice Sheet plays a critical role in global climate and sea level change resulting in it being the focus of international scientific exploration. Airborne platforms have been applied to study large geographical regions of Antarctica that are logistically difficult to reach by other means. For 30 years Chinese Antarctic expeditions, have widely applied ground based platforms in Antarctica. During the 32nd Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (years 2015/16), the first fixed-wing aircraft (Snow Eagle 601) was deployed by Polar Research Institute of China with special modifications for polar operation and airborne geophysical investigation of ice sheets. Here, the airframe of the aircraft and modifications for science operation in Polar Regions, as well as scientific instrumentation, system integration and its first application in Antarctica are introduced in detail. [Figure: see text]

Is there anything natural about the polar?

Polar Record ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 326-329
Author(s):  
Justiina Dahl ◽  
Peder Roberts ◽  
Lize-Marié van der Watt
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
International Geophysical Year ◽  
Alpine Regions ◽  
Polar Research Institute ◽  
Antarctic Research ◽  
Norwegian Polar Institute ◽  
Object Of Study ◽  
Research Institute

AbstractAre similarities of temperature, snow and ice cover, and (certain) marine mammals sufficient to warrant both polar regions being considered a single object of study or governance? We argue that their treatment as a unit is an invitation to examine the motivations behind the choice to be polar rather than Arctic or Antarctic. For individuals such as James Clerk Ross or Roald Amundsen, logistical requirements and analogous goals facilitated careers spanning both the Arctic and the Antarctic. This trend continued through the 20th century as individual scientists studying phenomena such as glaciers, sea ice, or aurora defined their research as “polar” in nature. Organisations such as the Scott Polar Research Institute and Norwegian Polar Institute could draw on traditions of national exploration in both polar regions, while the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute in St. Petersburg gained its southern mandate with the importance of the International Geophysical Year. By comparison, neither the Arctic Institute in Copenhagen nor the Argentine Antarctic Institute felt any need to become polar. The creation of polar identity is ultimately a matter of geopolitics, of the value states see in instruments and symbols that speak to polar rather than Arctic or Antarctic interests. In cases such as Finland’s icebreaker industry, a technological capability justified Antarctic interest even without any national research tradition. We conclude by asking whether there is anything more natural about the polar regions than there is about the concept of a “tripolar” world in which the high alpine regions form a natural unit along with the Arctic and Antarctic.

scholarly journals Evaluation of MUSICA IASI tropospheric water vapour profiles using theoretical error assessments and comparisons to GRUAN Vaisala RS92 measurements

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 4981-5006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Borger ◽  
Matthias Schneider ◽  
Benjamin Ertl ◽  
Frank Hase ◽  
Omaira E. García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapour ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Atmospheric Temperature ◽  
Systematic Difference ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Mixing Ratio ◽  
Random Errors ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Dry Bias

Abstract. Volume mixing ratio water vapour profiles have been retrieved from IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) spectra using the MUSICA (MUlti-platform remote Sensing of Isotopologues for investigating the Cycle of Atmospheric water) processor. The retrievals are done for IASI observations that coincide with Vaisala RS92 radiosonde measurements performed in the framework of the GCOS (Global Climate Observing System) Reference Upper-Air Network (GRUAN) in three different climate zones: the tropics (Manus Island, 2° S), mid-latitudes (Lindenberg, 52° N), and polar regions (Sodankylä, 67° N). The retrievals show good sensitivity with respect to the vertical H2O distribution between 1 km above ground and the upper troposphere. Typical DOFS (degrees of freedom for signal) values are about 5.6 for the tropics, 5.1 for summertime mid-latitudes, 3.8 for wintertime mid-latitudes, and 4.4 for summertime polar regions. The errors of the MUSICA IASI water vapour profiles have been theoretically estimated considering the contribution of many different uncertainty sources. For all three climate regions, unrecognized cirrus clouds and uncertainties in atmospheric temperature have been identified as the most important error sources and they can reach about 25 %. The MUSICA IASI water vapour profiles have been compared to 100 individual coincident GRUAN water vapour profiles. The systematic difference between the data is within 11 % below 12 km altitude; however, at higher altitudes the MUSICA IASI data show a dry bias with respect to the GRUAN data of up to 21 %. The scatter is largest close to the surface (30 %), but never exceeds 21 % above 1 km altitude. The comparison study documents that the MUSICA IASI retrieval processor provides H2O profiles that capture the large variations in H2O volume mixing ratio profiles well from 1 km above ground up to altitudes close to the tropopause. Above 5 km the observed scatter with respect to GRUAN data is in reasonable agreement with the combined MUSICA IASI and GRUAN random errors. The increased scatter at lower altitudes might be explained by surface emissivity uncertainties at the summertime continental sites of Lindenberg and Sodankylä, and the upper tropospheric dry bias might suggest deficits in correctly modelling the spectroscopic line shapes of water vapour.

scholarly journals Heterogeneous Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction to Value Added Products

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Amin Farkhondehfal ◽  
Juqin Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Co2 Reduction ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Global Climate Changes

The CO2 that comes from the use of fossil fuels accounts for about 65% of the global greenhouse gas emission, and it plays a critical role in global climate changes. Among the different strategies that have been considered to address the storage and reutilization of CO2, the transformation of CO2 into chemicals and fuels with a high added-value has been considered a winning approach. This transformation is able to reduce the carbon emission and induce a “fuel switching” that exploits renewable energy sources. The aim of this chapter is to categorize different heterogeneous electrocatalysts which are being used for CO2 reduction, based on the desired products of the above mentioned reactions: from formic acid and carbon monoxide to methanol and ethanol and other possible by products. Moreover, a brief description of the kinetic and mechanism of the CO2 reduction reaction) and pathways toward different products have been discussed.

scholarly journals Global 3D modelling of Martian CO2 clouds

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Mathé ◽  
Anni Määttänen ◽  
Joachim Audouard ◽  
Constantino Listowski ◽  
Ehouarn Millour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Model ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Global Climate Model ◽  
Martian Atmosphere ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Northern Latitudes ◽  
1D Model ◽  
Mesospheric Clouds ◽  
Microphysical Processes

<p>In the Martian atmosphere, carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) clouds have been revealed by numerous instruments around Mars from the beginning of the XXI century. These observed clouds can be distinguished by two kinds involving different formation processes: those formed during the winter in polar regions located in the troposphere, and those formed during the Martian year at low- and mid-northern latitudes located in the mesosphere (Määattänen et al, 2013). Microphysical processes of the formation of these clouds are still not fully understood. However, modeling studies revealed processes necessary for their formation: the requirement of waves that perturb the atmosphere leading to a temperature below the condensation of CO<sub>2</sub> (transient planetary waves for tropospheric clouds (Kuroda et al., 20123), thermal tides (Gonzalez-Galindo et al., 2011) and gravity waves for mesospheric clouds (Spiga et al., 2012)). In the last decade, a state-of-the-art microphysical column (1D) model for CO<sub>2</sub> clouds in a Martian atmosphere was developed at Laboratoire Atmosphères, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS) (Listowski et al., 2013, 2014). We use our full microphysical model of CO<sub>2</sub> cloud formation to investigate the occurrence of these CO<sub>2</sub> clouds by coupling it with the Global Climate Model (GCM) of the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD) (Forget et al., 1999). We recently activated the radiative impact of CO<sub>2</sub> clouds in the atmosphere. Last modeling results on Martian CO<sub>2</sub> clouds properties and their impacts on the atmosphere will be presented and be compared to observational data.</p>

scholarly journals Hindu Kush Himalayan Ecosystem as a Common Concern of Humankind: Imperative for Better Regional Jurisprudence

2017 ◽  
pp. 42-52
Author(s):  
Debasis Poddar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Mountain Glaciers ◽  
Common Concern ◽  
Hindu Kush ◽  
The World

Hindu Kush Himalayan region (hereafter the HKH) - with 3500 odd kilometres stretched in eight countries- is default resource generation hub for about one-fifth population of the world. The ecosystem-growing delicate these days- seems to play a critical role for the survival of flora and fauna along with the maintenance of all its life-sustaining mountain glaciers. Ten major rivers to carry forward hitherto sustainable development of these peoples fall into question now. Further, in the wake of global climate change today, the delicate HKH ecosystem becomes increasingly fragile to unfold manifold consequences and thereby take its toll on the population. And the same might turn apocalyptic in its magnanimity of irreversibledamage. Like time-bomb, thus, climate ticks to get blown off. As it is getting already too delayed for timely resort to safeguards, if still not taken care of in time, lawmakers ought to find the aftermath too late to lament for. Besides being conscious for climate discipline across the world, collective efforts on the part of all regional states together are imperative to minimize the damage. Therefore, each one has put hands together to be saved from the doomsday that appears to stand ahead to accelerate a catastrophicend, in the given speed of global climate change. As the largest Himalayan state and its central positioning at the top of the HKH, Nepal has had potential to play a criticalrole to engage regional climate change regime and thereby spearhead climate diplomacy worldwide to play regional capital of the HKH ecosystem. As regional superpower, India has had potential to usurp leadership avatar to this end. With reasoningof his own, the author pleads for better jurisprudence to attain regional environmental integrity inter se- rather than regional environmental integration alone- to defendthe vulnerable HKH ecosystem since the same constitutes common concern of humankind and much more so for themselves. Hence, to quote from Shakespeare, “To be or not to be, that is the question” is reasonable here. While states are engaged in the spree to cause mutually agreed destruction, global climate change- with deadly aftermath- poses the last and final unifier for them to turn United Nations in rhetoric sense o f the term.

The manuscript collection of the Scott Polar Research Institute

Polar Record ◽  
1959 ◽  
Vol 9 (61) ◽  
pp. 331-335
Author(s):  
Ann Savours
Keyword(s):  
Annual Report ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Storage Space ◽  
National Register ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
The Press ◽  
The Gift ◽  
Polar Research Institute ◽  
Research Institute

The Scott Polar Research Institute possesses a notable collection of manuscripts relating to the polar regions. An appeal through the Press in 1956 resulted in the acquisition of a number of interesting manuscripts which might otherwise have remained unnoticed in store, or been destroyed for want of storage space. The Institute is always anxious to. increase its collection, and is grateful for the gift, or notice of the whereabouts, of any journals, logbooks, letters and other material of polar interest. New accessions are listed in. the annual report of the Scott Polar Research Institute, published in the Polar Record and the Cambridge University Reporter, and are summarized in the Bulletin of the National Register of Archives (London).

Freeze Frame: historic polar images

Polar Record ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 366-368
Author(s):  
Huw Lewis-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Visual Culture ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Research Project ◽  
University Of Cambridge ◽  
The World ◽  
Iconic Images ◽  
Polar Research Institute ◽  
World Class ◽  
Research Institute

ABSTRACTSince the development of photography in the mid-nineteenth century, exploration has created iconic images of the polar regions. A new two-year research project, entitled Freeze Frame, using the world-class collections at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, will bring this remarkable visual culture forward for new audiences.

Transitioning to Low Carbon Mobility

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
James Higham
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The World ◽  
Environmental Transformation ◽  
Context Specific

Since the turn of the 21st Century, the world has experienced unprecedented economic, political, social and environmental transformation. The ‘inconvenient truth’ of climate change is now undeniable; rising temperatures and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events have resulted in the loss of lives, livelihoods and habitats as well as straining economies. Increasingly mobile lives are often dependent on high carbon modes of transport, representing a substantial contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the underlying cause of anthropogenic climate change. With growing demand and rising emissions, the transport sector has a critical role to play in achieving GHG emissions reductions, and stabilising the global climate. Low Carbon Mobility Transitions draws interdisciplinary insights on transport and mobilities, as a vast and complex socio-technical system. It presents 15 chapters and 6 shorter ‘case studies’ covering a diversity of themes and geographic contexts across three thematic sections: People and Place, Structures in Transition, and Innovations for Low Carbon Mobility. The three sections are highly interrelated, and with overlapping, complementing, and challenging themes. The contributions offer critical, often neglected insights into low carbon mobility transitions across the world. In doing so, Low Carbon Mobility Transitions sheds light on the place- and context-specific nature of mobility in a climate constrained world.

Effects of Continents and Supercontinents on Climate

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. W. Rogers ◽  
M. Santosh
Keyword(s):  
Global Climate ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
The North ◽  
Rock Types ◽  
Control Climate ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
Geologic Record

Continents affect the earth’s climate because they modify global wind patterns, control the paths of ocean currents, and absorb less heat than seawater. Throughout earth history the constant movement of continents and the episodic assembly of supercontinents has influenced both global climate and the climates of individual continents. In this chapter we discuss both present climate and the history of climate as far back in the geologic record as we can draw inferences. We concentrate on longterm changes that are affected by continental movements and omit discussion of processes with periodicities less than about 20,000 years. We refer readers to Clark et al. (1999) and Cronin (1999) if they are interested in such short-term processes as El Nino, periodic variations in solar irradiance, and Heinrich events. The chapter is divided into three sections. The first section describes the processes that control climate on the earth and includes a discussion of possible causes of glaciation that occurred over much of the earth at more than one time in the past. The second section investigates the types of evidence that geologists use to infer past climates. They include specific rock types that can form only under restricted climatic conditions, varieties of individual fossils, diversity of fossil populations, and information that the 18O/16O isotopic system can provide about temperatures of formation of ancient sediments. The third section recounts the history of the earth’s climate and relates changes to the growth and movement of continents. This history takes us from the Archean, when climates are virtually unknown, through various stages in the evolution of organic life, and ultimately to the causes of the present glaciation in both the north and the south polar regions. The earth’s climate is controlled both by processes that would operate even if continents did not exist and also by the positions and topographies of continents. We begin with the general controls, then discuss the specific effects of continents, and close with a brief discussion of processes that cause glaciation. The general climate of the earth is determined by the variation in the amount of sunshine received at different latitudes, by the earth’s rotation, and by the amount of arriving solar energy that is retained in the atmosphere.

Climate and Hydrologic Variations and Implications for Lake and Stream Ecological Response in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Welch ◽  
W. Berry Lyons
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Climatic Change ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Lake Level ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Mcmurdo Dry Valleys ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Dry Valleys ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research

Because polar regions may amplify what would be considered small to moderate climate changes at lower latitudes, Weller (1998) proposed that the monitoring of high latitude regions should yield early evidence of global climate change. In addition to the climate changes themselves, the connections between the polar regions and the lower latitudes have recently become of great interest to meteorologists and paleoclimatologists alike. In the southern polar regions, the direct monitoring of important climatic variables has taken place only for the last few decades, largely because of their remoteness. This of course limits the extent to which polar records can be related to low latitude records, even at multiyear to decadal timescales. Climatologists and ecologists are faced with the problem that, even though these high latitude regions may provide important clues to global climatic change, the lengths of available records are relatively short. The McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (MCM LTER) program was established in 1993. This program built on the monitoring begun in the late 1960s by researchers from New Zealand, who collected records of climate, lake level, and stream discharge in the Wright Valley, Antarctica. Griffith Taylor’s field party obtained the first data related to lake level in 1903 as part of Scott’s Discovery expedition. Analysis of the more recent data from the New Zealand Antarctic and MCM LTER programs when compared to the 1903 datum indicates that the first half of the twentieth century was a period of steadily increasing streamflows, followed in the last half of the century by streamflows that have resulted in more slowly increasing or stable lake levels (Bomblies et al. 2001). Thus, meteorological and hydrological records generated by the MCM LTER research team, when coupled with past data and the ecological information currently being obtained, provide the first detailed attempt to understand the connection between ecosystem structure and function and climatic change in this region of Antarctica. In addition, the program helps to fill an important gap in the overall understanding of climatic variability in Antarctica.

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