PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Project Title:
Researcher’s Name and Affiliation:
Project Location:
Timeframe:
Global Atmosphere Watch Program
Andrew Platt, Environment Canada
Alert, NU
1 January 2011 – continuous
Project Summary:
Alert, Nunavut is the location of the Global Atmosphere Watch Research Station. Changes in the
atmosphere are monitored here, providing a significant Canadian scientific presence in the North
contributing to both Canadian and global environmental issues. Our work here leverages significant
international science to meet Canada’s interests in providing guidance to understanding the impacts of
future development and increased transportation activities in the North.
Observations started in 1975 as Canada’s obligation to support the United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP) following the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. It is now
one of three premier remote sites in the United Nations World Meteorological Organization Global
Atmosphere Watch Program, having joined the program in 1986.
The atmospheric measurements collected by Environment Canada and international
collaborators support prediction of future earth-atmosphere behaviour in the context of global and
regional air quality and climate change. This provides an ongoing scientific foundation, upon which
periodic intensive international studies, such as International Polar Year, build upon.
Research here has led to important scientific advances such as:
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the discovery of spring time surface ozone depletions during polar sunrise. Subsequent
intensive polar sunrise field studies at Alert have greatly increased our understanding of the
complexity of Arctic atmospheric chemical processes
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the discovery of mercury depletion as a direct result of these polar sunrise studies, which was
instrumental in improving our understanding of how mercury moves from the atmosphere into
the food chain and diets of northern communities.
documentation of increasing greenhouse gas trends, notably carbon dioxide and methane,
confirming global trends and providing better estimates of carbon cycling for North America,
particularly in northern regions;
the discovery of the presence of stain repellent and flame retardant pollutants in the Arctic
atmosphere, which became part of the scientific underpinning for recent Canadian regulatory
actions to control emission of these substances;
understanding Arctic haze, an indicator of continental air pollution transport due to fossil fuel
combustion and industrial practices primarily from Eurasia, and to a lesser extent North
America
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The long term observations have been used to support the development of international policies and
regulations, as well tracking the success of implementing these.
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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are man-made chemicals that can destroy ozone. CFC observations
are used to track the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol in addressing stratospheric ozone
depletion. There are early hopeful indications of recovery.
Declining trends of banned pesticides and heavy metals, and stable trends of current use
pesticides, have been observed illustrating the success of managing such substances within the
governance and programs of the Arctic Council.
Method of Transport: Transport to and from the Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert is provided by
the Department of National Defence (DND); service flights from Canadian Forces Base (CFB)
Trenton. Ground transportation on sight is provided by four wheel drive pick-up trucks. These are
equipped with Mattracks track conversion systems for winter-time use.
Restoration/abandonment plans: the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) lab is a permanent research
facility. If any future abandonment were to take place, site restoration would be undertaken as per site
license and agreement with DND and all applicable legislation.
Methodology: There are three main types of data collection.
1. In situ analysers: instruments collect air through sampling tubes and measure the concentration
of a particular species in real time.
2. Flask Sampling: air samples are taken in glass or steel canisters and shipped back to
the originating laboratory for further analysis.
3. Filter sampling: air is drawn through a paper filter for a specified period of time. Upon
completion, the filter is sent to the originating laboratory for further analysis.
Data: The data will be used to support: the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) atmospheric
& climate change research and two Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) ongoing research
initiatives which monitor PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides and mercury in the Arctic air.
The data will also be used to support two International Polar Year (IPY) research projects:
1. Intercontinental Atmospheric Transport of Anthropogenic Pollutants to the Arctic (INCATPA) and
2. Ocean Atmosphere Sea Ice and Snow Interactions in Polar Regions (OASIS-CANADA).
Reporting: Data will be archived in both internal and publicly available databases (e.g. WMO, NASA
– National Aeronautics and Space Administration, AMAP – Arctic Monitoring and Assessment
Programme). Research results are published in recognized scientific journals.