From the Heights of Weather Balloons
to the Depths of Earthquakes
Keith Lambkin – Chief Scientist Valentia Observatory
UCD Class Trip
8th Oct 2010
Valentia Observatory
Masters in Meteorology Class Field Trip to
Valentia Observatory 2010
8th Oct 2010
9:30
Welcome
Work done at Valentia Observatory (Talk)
Keith Lambkin
11:00
Coffee Break
11:30
International Phenology Garden, Synoptic Observations
and Met Enclosure (Tour)
Valentia Staff
Upper Air balloon launch and explanation of
balloon launch equipment and tracking (Tour)
Keith + Staff
11:50
12:30
Lunch
14:00
History of Valentia Observatory (Talk)
Mike Crean
14:40
Tour of rest of Observatory [Magnetics, Seismology,
Solar Radiation and Ozone monitoring] (Tour)
Keith + Staff
16:00
Close
Valentia Observatory
Today
Valentia
Observatory
Valentia Observatory
Today
Met Éireann
Valentia Observatory
Meteorology
Synoptic Met
Solar Radiation
Geophysics
Geomagnetism
Ozone
Upper Air
Lightning
Pollution
Aerosol
Phenology
Seismology
Synoptic Meteorology
Valentia Observatory
Surface Measurements
•
Dry and Wet Bulb Temperature
•
Pressure
•
Wind Speed and Direction
•
Rainfall
•
Visibility
•
Cloud type and amount
Synoptic code
DD95317001203200941250
81705 10104 20092 30170 40207 57010 75052 886//
333 86704 88706 92446555 3004 50098 6999 N0000=NNNN
Valentia Observatory
Synoptic Meteorology
Synoptic Meteorology Summary
 Standard meteorology parameters recorded
 [Dry and Wet Bulb Temperature, Pressure, Wind Speed and
Direction, Rainfall, Visibility, Cloud type and amount]
Why?
 To supply a snapshot of the current weather situation, for
forecast purposes
 Climate record purposes
Valentia Observatory
Upper Air
•
4 Ascents per day at 06z, 12z, 18z and 00z
•
Measuring Temperature, Humidity, Atmospheric pressure, Wind Speed and
direction.
•
Member of EUCOS (EUMETNET Composite Observing System ), GUAN (GCOS Upper
Air Network)
•
Navigational reference systems: LORAN C (LOng RAnge Navigation) and GPS
Valentia Observatory
Upper Air
Valentia Observatory
Upper Air
Valentia Observatory
10th Oct 2008
Upper Air
Valentia Observatory
James Reilly & Valentia Observatory
Upper Air
Valentia Observatory
Upper Air Summary
 Valentia is the only place in the Republic of Ireland that
launches upper air balloons for meteorological purposes
 4 accents a day
Why?
 To supply vertical profile data to forecast models
 Used to calibrate satellite sensors
 Provide Tephigram chart as a forecast analysis tool
Valentia Observatory
Air and Rainwater Pollution Monitoring
1. Air Monitoring:
EMEP: NO2- (Nitrogen Dioxide) – daily measurements
EMEP: SO2- and SO4- (Sulphur Dioxide)
– using impregnated filters – daily measurements
2. Rainwater Sampling:
EMEP : Na+, Ca+, K+, Mg+, NH4-N, Cl-,
NO3-N, SO4-S, Conductivity – daily
IAEA: Analysis – monthly
EPA: Heavy metals – monthly
pH: Daily
Valentia Observatory
Air and Rainwater Pollution Monitoring
NO2 Pollution levels in Europe (Jan 03 – Jun 04)
Annual average SO2 levels for the period 1980 to 2002 at Valentia
Air and Rainwater Pollution Monitoring
Valentia Observatory
• SO2 and SO4 since 1981 – most
extensive record in Ireland.
• NO2 since 1989 – most
extensive in Ireland
From Bashir and McGovern 2004
Steve Smith - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Valentia Observatory
Air and Rainwater Pollution Monitoring
Air & Rainwater Monitoring Summary
 Valentia’s lab (& HQ Dublin lab) measures pollutants in Air and
Rainwater
Why?
 To provide excellent background count values for Europe
 Monitor changes in pollution levels over Ireland
Valentia Observatory
Phenology
Phenology: the study of biological phase changes in Plants and Animals
Observed Phases at Valentia:
Beginning of leaf-unfolding
General flowering
First ripe fruits
Autumn coloring
Beginning of flowering
Leaf fall
A
B C
D
E
Photo: Eeva Kotilainen.
F
G
H
I
IPG & COST 725
Valentia Observatory
Length of Growing Season at Valentia Observatory
Phenology
Adapted from Donnelly, Salamin
and Jones 2005
•
Phenology used as indicator for climate change
•
Most species now leaf earlier than in 1970
•
An increase in 1oC average Spring temperature corresponds to an approx 7 day
advance of the beginning of growing season
Phenology
Valentia Observatory
IPCC 4th Assessment Report - 2007
Working Group II Report "Impacts,
Adaptation and Vulnerability
Chapter 1: Assessment of Observed
Changes and Responses in Natural and
Managed Systems - Page 113
Valentia Observatory
Phenology
Phenology Summary
 Valentia Observatory records phase changes on a number of
‘cloned’ trees
Why?
 Phenology can by used as a climate change indicator
Valentia Observatory
Solar Radiation Measurements
Valentia Observatory
Solar Radiation Measurements
Solar Radiation Measurements
Valentia Observatory
Malin Head
Belmullet
Clones
Dublin Airport
Birr
Valentia
Irish Primary Solar Radiation Network
Irish TUCSON Solar Radiation Network
Valentia Observatory
Solar Radiation Measurements
Solar / Terrestrial Radiation Summary
 Valentia Observatory records ‘Direct’ ,‘Diffuse’ and ‘Global’
solar radiation
 Calibrate Ireland’s Solar radiation network
Why?
 Climate Records
 Research
Valentia Observatory
Ground Level Ozone
Ozone
Ground Level Analyser
Environmental Protection
Agency
National University
of Ireland,
Galway
Analysis of surface ozone measurements at various sites over Ireland
Tripathi O.P., Jennings S.G., O’Dowd C.D., Coleman L., Leinert S., Moran E.
Publication Pending in Journal of Geophysical Research
Ozone
Valentia Observatory
Total Column Ozone
Brewer Spectrophotometer #088
•Measures Total Column Ozone (DU)
• Spectral instrument
• Part of Global Ozone Observation System
• Automated / continuous measurements
• WOUDC & NDACC
Tom McElroy, co-inventor (with Jim Kerr and David Wardle) of
the Brewer Ozone Spectrophotometer
Ozone
Valentia Observatory
Ozonesondes
Ozone Layer
Ozone
Validation of OMI Total Column Ozone using Ground-Based Brewer Observations
Evidence of increasing column ozone at a mid-latitude station
at Valentia, Ireland (51.94o N, 10.23o W) observed through
ground based, satellite, and ozonesonde measurements
Tripathi, O.P., Jennings S.G., O’Dowd, C.D., Lambkin K.P., Moran, E.
Level
Total
(1994 – 2009) 11-year running mean of data
for the month of March
Ozonesonde
Brewer
Satellite
+2.32±1.24
+1.75±0.25
+1.84±0.25
DU/year
DU/year
DU/year
+6.6±3.5 %
per decade
+4.9±0.7%
per decade
345
+5.1±0.7%
per decade
3.5
3.0
340
335
2.0
1.5
330
1.0
325
Total Ozone
0.5
EESC
320
1950
0.0
1970
1990
Years
2010
EESC in ppb
2.5
Ozone in DU
Valentia Observatory
Dimitris Balis, Ellen Brinksma, Mark Kroon, Vassilis Amiridis and Christos Zerefos
Valentia Observatory
Ozone
Ozone Summary
 Ground Level Ozone Network
 Valentia Observatory records total column ozone
-Brewer Spectrophotometer
 Records vertical Ozone profile
- Ozonesonde
Why?
 GLO is a health risk for plants and animals
 Monitor Ozone depletion
 UV studies
Valentia Observatory
o
Sferics : Radio Waves from lightning
flashes (10-14kHz)
o
Arrival Time Difference (ATD) lightning
location
o
Range Single Antenna ~ 10,000 km
o
Control centre Bracknell
o
Tolerance set to only study significant
flashes
o
Location accuracy ~ 2 km over Europe
Lightning
ATDNET
Wetterzentrale
Valentia Observatory
Lightning
Lightning Summary
 Valentia Observatory has lightning detection antenna which
forms part of a international network administrated by the British
Met Office.
Why?
 Provide forecasters with information on storm movements
 Safety – Airports, ESB, Intel
Valentia Observatory
Aerosols
•
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) recommended to abandon Aerosol
Optical Depth (AOD) measurements under the BAPMoN Programme
•
World Optical Depth Research & Calibration Centre (WORCC) 1996
•
Precision Filter Radiometer (PFR)
Valentia Observatory
Aerosols
Aerosol Summary
 Valentia Observatory just started to measure & record Aerosol
Optical Depth (AOD)
 Potential for a super site
Why?
 Provide reliable aerosol measurements
 Initiate Climate Models
Valentia Observatory
Geomagnetism
Valentia Observatory
Geomagnetism
Valentia Observatory
Geomagnetism
o
Member of INTERMAGNET – since 2001
o
Member of MagNetE – since 2003
2005
Eoin Moran / Michael Crean
Geomagnetism
Starting in 1888 – Valentia is one of oldest operational magnetic observatories in the world
Westerly Declination (degrees)
Valentia Observatory
25
Figure 1. Westerly Declination at Valentia, Eskdalemuir and Hartland
20
15
10
5
Es kdalem uir
Valentia
Hartland
0
1900.5
1910.5
1920.5
1930.5
1940.5
1950.5
1960.5
1970.5
Valentia Magnetic Data Used for:
Ordnance Survey Ireland
Irish Aviation Authority
Compass Calibrations
Solar Wind Research
1980.5
1990.5
2000.5
Valentia Observatory
Geomagnetism
Geomagnetism Summary
 Valentia Observatory has one of the oldest continuous
magnetic records in the world
 Monitor the movement of the poles (secular variation)
Why?
 Navigation (Ordnance Survey Ireland)
 Aviation, Drilling
 Research - Solar Wind
Valentia Observatory
Seismology
www.astronomynotes.com
P
S
Seismology
Valentia Observatory
o 1962 – 1999: World Wide Standardised
Seismographic Network station in conjunction
with USGS
o 1999 to present: Broadband Seismic station
in cooperation with DIAS
Valentia Observatory
Seismology
HAITI 2010 January 12 21:53:10 UTC Magnitude 7.0
Tonga 20 Mar 2009 7.9 magnitude
Where Valentia seismic data goes to:
o DIAS (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)
o USGS & BGS
o European – Mediterranean Seismological Centre
o International Seismological Centre
o Blacknest
http://seiscomp.cp.dias.ie/slmon/gifs/VAL.active.gif
Valentia Observatory
Seismology
Seismology Summary
 Valentia Observatory continuously records seismic activity
Why?
 Forms part of a seismic network used to measure location and
strength of Earthquakes
 Watchdog for Nuclear testing
 Early warning system Earthquake / Tsunami (future)
Valentia Observatory
Valentia Observatory
Thank You
Valentia Observatory
Synoptic Meteorology
Synoptic Meteorology Summary
 Standard meteorology parameters recorded
 [Dry and Wet Bulb Temperature, Pressure, Wind Speed and
Direction, Rainfall, Visibility, Cloud type and amount]
Why?
 To supply a snapshot of the current weather situation, for
forecast purposes
 Climate record purposes
Upper Air
Valentia Observatory
Upper Air Summary
 Valentia is the only place in the Republic of Ireland that
launches upper air balloons for meteorological purposes
 4 accents a day
Why?
 To supply vertical profile data to forecast models
 Used to calibrate satellite sensors
 Provide Tephigram chart as a forecast analysis tool
Valentia Observatory
Air and Rainwater Pollution Monitoring
Air & Rainwater Monitoring Summary
 Valentia’s lab (& HQ Dublin lab) measures pollutants in Air and
Rainwater
Why?
 To provide excellent background count values for Europe
 Monitor changes in pollution levels over Ireland
Valentia Observatory
Phenology
Phenology Summary
 Valentia Observatory records phase changes on a number of
‘cloned’ trees
Why?
 Phenology can by used as a climate change indicator
Valentia Observatory
Solar Radiation Measurements
Solar / Terrestrial Radiation Summary
 Valentia Observatory records ‘Direct’ ,‘Diffuse’ and ‘Global’
solar radiation
 Calibrate Ireland’s Solar radiation network
Why?
 Climate Records
 Research
Valentia Observatory
Ozone
Ozone Summary
 Ground Level Ozone Network
 Valentia Observatory records total column ozone
-Brewer Spectrophotometer
 Records vertical Ozone profile
- Ozonesonde
Why?
 GLO is a health risk for plants and animals
 Monitor Ozone depletion
 UV studies
Valentia Observatory
Lightning
Lightning Summary
 Valentia Observatory has lightning detection antenna which
forms part of a international network administrated by the British
Met Office.
Why?
 Provide forecasters with information on storm movements
 Safety – Airports, ESB, Intel
Valentia Observatory
Aerosols
Aerosol Summary
 Valentia Observatory just started to measure & record Aerosol
Optical Depth (AOD)
 Potential for a super site
Why?
 Provide reliable aerosol measurements
 Initiate Climate Models
Valentia Observatory
Geomagnetism
Geomagnetism Summary
 Valentia Observatory has one of the oldest continuous
magnetic records in the world
 Monitor the movement of the poles (secular variation)
Why?
 Navigation (Ordnance Survey Ireland)
 Aviation, Drilling
 Research - Solar Wind
Valentia Observatory
Seismology
Seismology Summary
 Valentia Observatory continuously records seismic activity
Why?
 Forms part of a seismic network used to measure location and
strength of Earthquakes
 Watchdog for Nuclear testing
 Early warning system Earthquake / Tsunami (future)