1928 research outputs found
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Characterization of the parent and hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soil of the Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica
Full text linkPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) were investigated in the soil of the Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica. Various analytes were detected, and the concentration of OH-PAHs was 0.300–1.847 ng·g−1 dry weight, with the dominant components being danthron and 1-hydroxy-phenanthrene. The relationship between soil total organic matter (TOM), OH-PAHs, and the parent PAHs in the soil was studied. No significant correlation was detected between the spatial distribution of OH-PAHs and the occurrence of PAHs, whereas a positive correlation with TOM was found
Multi-sensor data merging of sea ice concentration and thickness
Full text linkWith the rapid change in the Arctic sea ice, a large number of sea ice observations have been collected in recent years, and it is expected that an even larger number of such observations will emerge in the coming years. To make the best use of these observations, in this paper we develop a multi-sensor optimal data merging (MODM) method to merge any number of different sea ice observations. Since such merged data are independent on model forecast, they are valid for model initialization and model validation. Based on the maximum likelihood estimation theory, we prove that any model assimilated with the merged data is equivalent to assimilating the original multi-sensor data. This greatly facilitates sea ice data assimilation, particularly for operational forecast with limited computational resources. We apply the MODM method to merge sea ice concentration (SIC) and sea ice thickness (SIT), respectively, in the Arctic. For SIC merging, the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) data are merged together with the Norwegian Ice Service ice chart. This substantially reduces the uncertainties at the ice edge and in the coastal areas. For SIT merging, the daily Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) data is merged with the weekly-mean merged CryoSat-2 and SMOS (CS2SMOS) data. This generates a new daily CS2SMOS SIT data with better spatial coverage for the whole Arctic
Surface ozone variations at the Great Wall Station, Antarctica during austral summer
Full text linkSurface ozone (O3) is a secondary pollutant harmful to human health and a greenhouse gas which is one of the prime climate forcers. Due to the clean atmospheric environment of the Antarctic region and given the complexity of O3 chemistry, the observation of surface O3 variability in this region is necessary in the quest to better understand the potential sources and sink of polar surface O3. In this paper, we highlighted our observations on O3 variability at the Great Wall Station (GWS) during austral summer in December 2018 and January 2019. The continuous surface O3 measurement at the GWS, Antarctica was carried out using the Ecotech Ozone analyzer. To understand the roles of the meteorological conditions on the temporal variations of O3, meteorological data was obtained from the conventional auto-observational station at the GWS. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was employed to investigate the air mass transport over the region. The observed austral summer surface O3 concentrations at the GWS exhibited variability and were significantly lower than those previously observed at other permanent coastal stations in Antarctica. The surface ozone variability at the GWS was strongly influenced by the synoptic change of air mass origin although the roles of photochemistry production and destruction were still uncertain. Marine characteristics and stable surface O3 characterized the air masses that reached the GWS. The unique characteristic of surface O3 at the coastal site of GWS was emphasized by its synoptic air mass characteristics, which displayed a significant influence on surface O3 variability. Air mass that traveled over the ocean with relatively shorter distance was linked to the lower O3 level, whereby the marine transport of reactive bromine (Br) species was thought to play a significant role in the tropospheric chemistry that leads to O3 destruction. Meanwhile, the diurnal variation indicated that the O3 background concentration levels were not strongly associated with the local atmospheric conditions
Ongoing and Promising Petrochemical Projects in the Far East: in the Conditions of COVID-19 and the War of Oil Prices
Full text linkA presentation that was held on the webinar: Potential of O&G Projects of the Far East in New Economic Realities in May 2020 by Vostock Capita
A review of synoptic weather effects on sea ice outflow through Fram Strait: cyclone vs. anticyclone
Full text linkSea ice outflow through Fram Strait is a vital component of the sea ice mass balance of the Arctic Ocean. Previous studies have examined the role of large-scale modes of atmospheric circulation variability such as the Arctic Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, and Dipole Anomaly in the movement of sea ice. This review emphasizes the distinct impacts of synoptic weather on sea ice export as well as on other relevant fields (i.e., sea ice concentration and sea ice drift). We identify deficiencies in previous studies that should be addressed, and we summarize potential research subjects that should be investigated to further our understanding of the relationship between synoptic weather and sea ice export via Fram Strait. For example, the connection between summertime anticyclones and weakened potential vorticity related to the observed extensive spring Eurasian snow and Siberian Ocean sea ice loss is of considerable interest. In-depth exploration of this type of geophysical mechanism will be particularly useful in assessment of the robustness of such linkages inferred through statistical analyses
An assessment of the impacts of diesel power plants on air quality in Antarctica
Full text linkThis study assessed the effects of diesel generators on air quality in the Antarctic. These devices are the primary energy sources for Antarctic research stations and the main stationary sources of anthropogenic emissions in this region. Taking the Vecherny Oasis, Enderby Land, East Antarctica as an example, NOx, SO2 and PM10 emissions were estimated and surface concentrations of these same pollutants as well as the dry deposition of PM10 were calculated for various periods of exploration of the oasis, based on generator capacities. Estimated values were compared with air quality standards and background air concentrations. The areas associated with increased maximum hourly surface concentrations of SO2, NO2 and PM10 over the past 30 a were found to have been reduced by factors of 43–55, 9–16 and 13–27, respectively. The region affected by increased maximum monthly PM10 deposition has been reduced by a factor of 7. Emissions, surface concentrations and dry depositions in the Vecherny Oasis were calculated for diesel generators in the same power range as used at Antarctic research stations. The most powerful diesel generator currently scheduled to be installed in this region was predicted to generate maximum hourly NO2 concentrations above 50 μg·m−3, which is 13 times greater than current levels. The area over which the PM10 deposition rate will exceed 10 mg·m−2·month−1 will be increased by a factor of 40. The technique employed herein has been demonstrated to be applicable to the preliminary assessment of stationary sources of pollutant emissions in Antarctica, including retrospective
assessments
Installing a prototype wind turbine to produce energy in Antarctica to allow a permanent Colombian scientific base to be established
Full text linkThis study was performed to support an expeditionary team of Colombian scientists seeking to promote and undertake research in various scientific fields in Antarctica. The work was part of the Colombian Antarctic Program, which comprises various projects intended to lead to a permanent Colombian scientific base being established in the Antarctic. The first step involved installing a Colombian-made wind turbine to produce electricity at a permanent base. The aeolian turbine was designed to provide sufficient electricity to illuminate and heat a small base. The turbine was constructed using readily accessible materials but taking the Madrid Protocol environmental regulations into consideration. The project was performed at the Argentinian Antarctic Marambio Station on Seymour Island, off the Antarctic Peninsula. An initial field study performed in 2015 was the first of three phases of the project. In the initial phase, local meteorological data were gathered to support development of a prototype turbine and to allow a design to be selected that was robust enough for the extreme environmental conditions. The wind turbine was then constructed in Colombia. The second phase involved transporting the turbine to Antarctica and installing it at the Marambio Station in 2018. Finally, the physical conditions of structural and electronic components of the turbine were carefully inspected at the beginning of 2020 (after the turbine had operated continually for ~2 years) to allow repairs to be made and any necessary re-engineering to be performed
The Arctic Council: A Quick Quide 3rd Edition
Full text linkA quick guide to the Arctic Council, who participates in it, what it does, and its accomplishments
Evaluation of ArcIOPS sea ice forecasting products during the ninth CHINARE-Arctic in summer 2018
Full text linkNumerical sea ice forecasting products during the ninth Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (9th CHINARE-Arctic) from Arctic Ice Ocean Prediction System (ArcIOPS) of National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center of China are evaluated against satellite-retrieved sea ice concentration data, in-situ sea ice thickness observations, and sea ice products from Pan-Arctic Ice Ocean Modeling and Assimilation System (PIOMAS). The results show that ArcIOPS forecasts reliable sea ice concentration and thickness evolution. Deviations of the 168 h sea ice concentration and thickness forecasts with respect to the observations are less than 0.2 and 0.36 m. Comparison between outputs of the latest version of ArcIOPS and that of its previous version shows that the latest version has a substantial improvement on sea ice concentration forecasts due to data assimilation of new observational component, the sea surface temperature. Meanwhile, the sea ice volume product of the latest version is more close to the PIOMAS product. In the future, with more and more kinds of observations to be assimilated, the high-resolution version of ArcIOPS will be put into operational running and benefit Chinese scientific and commercial activities in the Arctic Ocean