WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
PANEL OF EXPERTS ON POLAR OBSERVATIONS,
RESEARCH AND SERVICES
EC-PORS-3/Doc. 5.1.1
Submitted by: RES/ARE
Date: 27.I.2012
Third session
SODANKYLÄ, FINLAND, 6-8 FEBRUARY 2012
AGENDA ITEM: 5
GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE WATCH (GAW)
SUMMARY
ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED:
This document provides an update on the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme’s
observing activities in the polar regions.
DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:
1. The Panel is invited to review and comment on the update of the GAW Programme’s
observing activities and its adequacy in polar regions, recognizing the contribution of WMO
Members to its operation.
2. The Panel is invited to consider GAW in the context of other observing programmes, their
potential role in the development of environmental super-sites for observation and monitoring in
polar regions, their contribution to observing and scientific programmes of other bodies, such as
AMAP, SAON, SCAR, etc.
REFERENCES:
1. GAW WMO website: http://www.wmo.int/gaw
2. GAW Station Information System (GAWSIS): http://gaw.empa.ch/gawsis
EC-PORS-3/Doc. 5.1.1, p. 2
5.1
OBSERVATION PROGRAM UPDATES
GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE WATCH (GAW)
Discussion
Reference is made to EC-PORS-1/Doc 5.1.2. and EC-PORS-2/Doc 5.1.2. in which statistics are
provided on the GAW stations and measurement programme over the polar regions. In this
document a brief update on the network is provided and some critical issues are highlighted.
The WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme continues the coordination of global
observations of greenhouse gases (GHG), ozone, UV radiation, aerosols, selected reactive
gases, and precipitation chemistry. The most extensive measurement programmes are
implemented by the GAW Global stations (information is available from the GAW Station
Information System (GAWSIS) at http://gaw.empa.ch/gawsis/). Six of the 27 Global stations are
situated in the Polar Regions (North of 60N or South of 60S) and remain operational: Alert,
Barrow, Pallas/Sodankylä, Ny Ålesund in the Arctic region and Neumayer and South Pole in
Antarctica.
The key challenges in Arctic observations remain:
 Aerosols pollution related to Arctic haze,
 Assessment of direct pollutant transport from the sources in the Northern hemisphere
(via reactive gases observations)
 Changes in the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases due to permafrost melting and
sea shelf warming,
 Stratospheric ozone depletion
In the Antarctic, the focus remains on stratospheric ozone depletion.
The four GAW Global stations in the Arctic (Alert (Canada), Point Barrow Observatory
(United States, Alaska), Pallas-Sodankylä (Finland), Ny-Ålesund (Norway)) have adequate
measurement programmes to address the bulk of the issues identified. Ny-Ålesund has the
most comprehensive aerosol and reactive gases measurement programme. The suite of
measurements has become very complex and challenging to support in a sustainable manner.
As a matter of fact, many of the observational sites experience substantial problems with
funding. On the other hand, a thorough analysis and understanding of the total atmospheric
chemistry and aerosol impact is only possible if many species or groups of species are
measured. Therefore, such comprehensive measurements should, despite their complexity, be
encouraged and supported to avoid premature termination (such as the greenhouse gases
isotopes measurements which were ceased by some countries in the past year).It is of concern
that during recent years a substantial reduction in GAW observations has occurred in the
Arctic in particular; of the 54 stations registered in GAWSIS over the Arctic, 30% are reported
as closed. However, when checking data submissions and availability it is clear that the
situation is in fact worse.
Substantial gaps exist in the Arctic observations in specific critical regions where climate
change is already impacting on the fluxes of the greenhouse gases and is projected to continue
to do so in future. The commissioning of the observation station at Tiksi, which has performed
GHG observations since mid-2010 is a prime example of such a location. Cg-XVI applauded
this commitment by the Russian Federation, and the station was accepted as a GAW regional
EC-PORS-3/Doc. 5.1.1, p. 3
station in 2011. However, routine data submission to the World Data Centre for Greenhouse
Gasses, a requirement for such a station, still has to be initiated.
On Antarctica, two Global GAW stations (Neumayer Station (operated by Germany) and the
South Pole Observatory (operated by the United States)) remain operational. Neumayer
stations submits only data on surface ozone and vertical ozone profiles, while South Pole has
more comprehensive programme with appropriate data submission for a substantial number of
reactive and greenhouse gases as well as ozone profiles. Only 2 stations in Antarctica
measure CFCs, which are considered to be the cause of the stratospheric ozone depletion.
The spatial coverage of observations in Antarctica is very sparse, even compared to the Artic.
Due to the high costs and logistical difficulties to run the stations in Antarctica, they run a high
risk for closure during periods of financial strain. Nearly half of the earlier active Regional
stations (12 of 30) have closed in Antarctica while many of the “fully operational stations” do not
have data submissions for the last two years (8 of remaining 18).
Summary
Considering the observed and projected changes in polar regions, their importance to the global
weather and climate system and the emerging needs for new weather and climate services in
polar regions, it should be noted that:
 GAW is a fundamental programme to build a better understanding of the various
feedbacks that occur in polar regions and to improve modeling of the weather and
climate system;
 The GAW observation activities are coming under increasing threat due to financial
pressure exactly at a time when their value is increasing;
 Models being develop for new environmental services in polar regions require more
comprehensive atmospheric chemistry and aerosol information at higher special
resolution
In is therefore desirable to promote the notion that, despite the complexity of the measurement
programme related to atmospheric chemistry and aerosols over polar regions, such
programmes should be expanded and be viewed as an integral part of sustained routine
observations. Members of WMO should be encouraged to find ways to ensure that such
programmes become less dependent of project funds related to research initiatives.
Acronyms
CFCs
GAW
GAWSIS
GHG
Chlorofluorocarbons
Global Atmosphere Watch Programme of the World Meteorological Organization
GAW Station Information System
Greenhouse Gas