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A consistent meteorological dataset of the Arctic site Ny-Ålesund (11.9°E, 78.9°N) spanning the 18-year-period 1 August 1993 to 31 July 2011 is presented. Instrumentation and data handling of temperature, humidity, wind and pressure measurements are described in detail. Monthly mean values are shown for all years to illustrate the interannual variability of the different parameter. Climatological mean values are given for temperature, humidity and pressure. From the climatological dataset, we also present the time series of annual mean temperature and humidity, revealing a temperature increase of +1.35 K per decade and an increase in water vapor mixing ratio of +0.22 g/kg per decade for the given time period, respectively. With the continuation of the presented measurements, the Ny-Ålesund high resolution time series will provide a reliable source to monitor Arctic change and retrieve trends in the future. The relevant data are provided in high temporal resolution as averages over 5 [1] minutes before [after] 14 July 1998, respectively, placed on the PANGAEA repository (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.793046). While 6-hourly synoptic observations in Ny-Ålesund by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute reach back to 1974 (Førland et al., 2011), the meteorological data presented here cover a shorter time period, but their high temporal resolution will be of value for atmospheric process studies on shorter time scales.

Spectral radiance measurements by a digital single-lens reflex camera were used to derive the directional reflectivity of clouds and different surfaces in the Arctic. The camera has been calibrated radiometrically and spectrally to provide accurate radiance measurements with high angular resolution. A comparison with spectral radiance measure- ments with the Spectral Modular Airborne Radiation mea- surement sysTem (SMART-Albedometer) showed an agree- ment within the uncertainties of both instruments (6 % for both). The directional reflectivity in terms of the hemispher- ical directional reflectance factor (HDRF) was obtained for sea ice, ice-free ocean and clouds. The sea ice, with an albedo of ρ = 0.96 (at 530 nm wavelength), showed an al- most isotropic HDRF, while sun glint was observed for the ocean HDRF (ρ = 0.12). For the cloud observations with ρ = 0.62, the cloudbow – a backscatter feature typically for scattering by liquid water droplets – was covered by the cam- era. For measurements above heterogeneous stratocumu- lus clouds, the required number of images to obtain a mean HDRF that clearly exhibits the cloudbow has been estimated at about 50 images (10 min flight time). A representation of the HDRF as a function of the scattering angle only reduces the image number to about 10 (2 min flight time). The measured cloud and ocean HDRF have been com- pared to radiative transfer simulations. The ocean HDRF simulated with the observed surface wind speed of 9 m s−1 agreed best with the measurements. For the cloud HDRF, the best agreement was obtained by a broad and weak cloud- bow simulated with a cloud droplet effective radius of Reff = 4 μm. This value agrees with the particle sizes derived from in situ measurements and retrieved from the spectral radiance of the SMART-Albedometer.

An overview on the data of columnar aerosol properties measured in Northern Europe is provided. Apart from the necessary data gathered in the Arctic, the knowledge of the aerosol loading in nearby areas (e.g. sub-Arctic) is of maximum interest to achieve a correct analysis of the Arctic aerosols and transport patterns. This work evaluates data from operational sites with sun photometer measurements belonging either to national or international networks (AERONET, GAW-PFR) and programs conducted in Scandi- navia and Svalbard. We enumerate a list of sites, measurement type and periods together with observed aerosol properties. An evaluation and analysis of aerosol data was carried out with a review of previous results as well. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent (AE) are the current parameters with suf␣cient long-term records for a ␣rst evaluation of aerosol properties. AOD (500 nm) ranges from 0.08 to 0.10 in Arctic and sub-Arctic sites (Ny-Ålesund: 0.09; Andenes: 0.10; Sodankylä: 0.08), and it is somewhat higher in more populated areas in Southern Scandinavia (AOD about 0.10e0.12 at 500 nm). On the Norwegian coast, aerosols show larger mean size (AE � 1.2 at Andenes) than in Finland, with continental climate (AE � 1.5 at Sodankylä). Columnar particle size distributions and related parameters derived from inversion of sun/sky radiances were also investigated. This work makes special emphasis in the joint and collaborative effort of the various groups from different countries involved in this study. Part of the measurements presented here were involved in the IPY projects Polar-AOD and POLARCAT.

In this work, a closure experiment for tropospheric aerosol is presented. Aerosol size distributions and single scattering albedo from remote sensing data are compared to those measured in-situ. An aerosol pollution event on 4 April 2009 was observed by ground based and airborne lidar and photometer in and around Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen, as well as by DMPS, nephelometer and particle soot absorption photometer at the nearby Zeppelin Mountain Research Station. The presented measurements were conducted in an area of 40 x 20 km around Ny-Alesund as part of the 2009 Polar Airborne Measurements and Arctic Regional Climate Model Simulation Project (PAMARCMiP). Aerosol mainly in the accumulation mode was found in the lower troposphere, however, enhanced backscattering was observed up to the tropopause altitude. A comparison of meteorological data available at different locations reveals a stable multi-layer-structure of the lower troposphere. It is followed by the retrieval of optical and microphysical aerosol parameters. Extinction values have been derived using two different methods, and it was found that extinction (especially in the UV) derived from Raman lidar data significantly surpasses the extinction derived from photometer AOD profiles. Airborne lidar data shows volume depolarization values to be less than 2.5% between 500 m and 2.5 km altitude, hence, particles in this range can be assumed to be of spherical shape. In-situ particle number concentrations measured at the Zeppelin Mountain Research Station at 474 m altitude peak at about 0.18 mu m diameter, which was also found for the microphysical inversion calculations performed at 850 m and 1500 m altitude. Number concentrations depend on the assumed extinction values, and slightly decrease with altitude as well as the effective particle diameter. A low imaginary part in the derived refractive index suggests weakly absorbing aerosols, which is confirmed by low black carbon concentrations, measured at the Zeppelin, AuthorCount:16

The Arctic atmospheric boundary layer (AABL) in the central Arctic was characterized by dropsonde, lidar, ice thickness and airborne in situ measurements during the international Polar Airborne Measurements and Arctic Regional Climate Model Simulation Project (PAMARCMiP) in April 2009. We discuss AABL observations in the lowermost 500 m above (A) open water, (B) sea ice with many open/refrozen leads (C) sea ice with few leads, and (D) closed sea ice with a front modifying the AABL. Above water, the AABL had near-neutral stratification and contained a high water vapor concentration. Above sea ice, a low AABL top, low near-surface temperatures, strong surface-based temperature inversions and an increase of moisture with altitude were observed. AABL properties and particle concentrations were modified by a frontal system, allowing vertical mixing with the free atmosphere. Above areas with many leads, the potential temperature decreased with height in the lowest 50 m and was nearly constant above, up to an altitude of 100–200 m, indicating vertical mixing. The increase of the backscatter coefficient towards the surface was high. Above sea ice with few refrozen leads, the stably stratified boundary layer extended up to 200–300 m altitude. It was characterized by low specific humidity and a smaller increase of the backscatter coefficient towards the surface.

Accurate fine-scale measurements of sea ice thicknesses and of the Arctic troposphere cannot easily be obtained or validated by satellites alone. To get these key data, necessary for better understanding the rapidly changing Arctic, a new project began conducting airborne surveys in 2009; efforts are under way to make the surveys an annual occurrence.

Accuracy requirements for aerosol optical depth (AOD) in polar regions are much more stringent than those usually encountered in established sun photometer networks, while comparability of data from different archive centres is a further important issue. Therefore, two intercomparison campaigns were held during spring 2006 at Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard) and autumn 2008 at Izaña (Tenerife) within the framework of the IPY POLAR-AOD project, with the participation of various research institutions routinely employing different instrument models at Arctic and Antarctic stations. As reported here, a common algorithm was used for data analysis with the aim of minimizing a large part of the discrepancies affecting the previous studies. During the Ny-Ålesund campaign, spectral values of AOD derived from measurements taken with different instruments were found to agree, presenting at both 500 nm and 870 nm wavelengths average values of root mean square difference (RMSD) and standard deviation of the difference (SDD) equal to 0.003. Correspondingly, the mean bias difference (MBD) varied mainly between ␣0.003 and þ0.003 at 500 nm, and between ␣0.004 and þ0.003 at 870 nm. During the Izaña campaign, which was also intended as an intercalibration opportunity, RMSD and SDD values were estimated to be equal to 0.002 for both channels on average, with MBD ranging between ␣0.004 and þ0.004 at 500 nm and between ␣0.002 and þ0.003 at 870 nm. RMSD and SDD values for Ångström exponent a were estimated equal to 0.06 during the Ny-Ålesund campaign and 0.39 at Izaña. The results confirmed that sun photometry is a valid technique for aerosol monitoring in the pristine atmospheric turbidity conditions usually observed at high latitudes.

During the last decade, an increased advection of thick multi-year ice that originates from an area north of Greenland, out of the Arctic through Fram Strait was observed. A replacement of this old and thick sea ice by much thinner ice might precondition for rapid sea ice retreat in summer. Aim of the TIFAX campaign is to monitor ice conditions during summer in the main export pathway of the Arctic Ocean. The campaign complements the large scale spring sea ice surveys in April 2009 and 2011 (PAMARCMIP) and is a continuation of the TIFAX campaign in 2010. This document summarizes data and quality of the data taken on flight with the HEM-Bird, a laserscanner and a nadir looking camera system mounted on board the Polar 5.

During March 2008 photometer observations of Arctic aerosol were performed both at a Russian ice-floe drifting station (NP-35) at the central Arctic ocean (56.7e42.0 E, 85.5e84.2 N) and at Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen (78.9 N, 11.9 E). Next to a persistent increase of AOD over NP-35, two pronounced aerosol events have been recorded there, one originating from early season forest fires close to the city of Khabarovsk (“Arctic Smoke”), the other one showed trajectories from central Russia and resembled more the classical Arctic Haze. The latter event has also been recorded two days later over Ny-Ålesund, both in photometer and lidar. From these remote sensing instruments volume distribution functions are derived and discussed. Only subtle differences between the smoke and the haze event have been found in terms of particle microphysics. Different trajectory analysis, driven by NCEP and ECMWF have been performed and compared. For the data set presented here the meteorological field, due to sparseness of data in the central Arctic, mainly limits the precision of the air trajectories.

In this work, a closure experiment for tropospheric aerosol is presented. Aerosol size distributions and single scattering albedo from remote sensing data are compared to those measured in-situ. An aerosol pollution event on 4 April 2009 was observed by ground based and airborne lidar and photometer in and around Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen, as well as by DMPS, nephelometer and particle soot absorption photometer at the nearby Zeppelin Mountain Research Station. The presented measurements were conducted in an area of 40 20 km around Ny-Ålesund as part of the 2009 Polar Airborne Measurements and Arctic Regional Climate Model Simulation Project (PAMARCMiP). Aerosol mainly in the accumulation mode was found in the lower troposphere, however, enhanced backscattering was observed up to the tropopause altitude. A comparison of meteorological data available at different locations reveals a stable multi-layer-structure of the lower troposphere. It is followed by the retrieval of optical and microphysical aerosol parameters. Extinction values have been derived using two different methods, and it was found that extinction (especially in the UV) derived from Raman lidar data significantly surpasses the extinction derived from photometer AOD profiles. Airborne lidar data shows volume depolarization values to be less than 2.5% between 500 m and 2.5 km altitude, hence, particles in this range can be assumed to be of spherical shape. In-situ particle number concentrations measured at the Zeppelin Mountain Research Station at 474m altitude peak at about 0.18 mmdiameter, which was also found for the microphysical inversion calculations performed at 850 m and 1500 m altitude. Number concentrations depend on the assumed extinction values, and slightly decrease with altitude as well as the effective particle diameter. A low imaginary part in the derived refractive index suggests weakly absorbing aerosols, which is confirmed by low black carbon concentrations, measured at the Zeppelin Mount

Transport of sea ice through Fram Strait affects the global climate through its influence on the thermohaline circulation. In recognition of its importance, the ice thickness distribution across Fram Strait and in the area north of Greenland was subject of the TIFAX 2010 field campaign. The ice thickness was investigated by means of an airborne electromagnetic (EM) system with a single-frequency of 4.08 kHz. The instrument was towed by a research aircraft (Polar 5) 15 meters above the ice surface. The method utilizes the contrast of electrical conductivity between sea water and sea ice to determine the distance to the ice-water interface. An additional laser altimeter yields the distance to the uppermost reflecting surface, hence ice thickness is obtained as the ice- plus snow thickness from the difference between the laser range and the EM derived distance. In this data report, all tracks/profiles taken during TIFAX 2010 are presented.

Volcanic eruptions can alter the state of the stratosphere on a timescale of several months to years and can have a significant impact on radiative forcing especially in the climatologically sensitive Arctic regions.The eruptions of the Kasatochi volcano in August 2008 and Sarychev volcano in June 2009 led to an enhanced stratospheric aerosol load which was studied with the Koldewey Aerosol Raman Lidar (KARL) at the AWIPEV Arctic Research Base in Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen at 78.9 N, 11.9 E. In both years, distinct layers of enhanced aerosol backscatter in the lower stratosphere and the tropopause region have been observed on subsequent days coinciding with a significant increase in aerosol optical depth (measured with sun photometer) compared to the mean values from 2004 2007.Two case studies some weeks after the eruptions are compared: 1 September 2008 and 13 July 2009. Both days show the lowest layer of enhanced aerosol just above the tropopause with a backscatter ratio of 2-4. Calculations of the lidar ratio as well as the estimation of microphysical parameters of the aerosol particles were performed for these aerosol layers identifying significant differences between the two events. The Kasatochi aerosol showed a much higher lidar ratio indicating a higher index of refraction and hence a higher fraction of absorbing material. Furthermore, on 13 July 2009, the temperature profile obtained with a VAISALA RS98 balloon sounding shows a negative correlation with layers of enhanced backscatter within the stratosphere, which could not be confirmed for 1 September 2008.Our studies imply that, although the spatial distribution of aerosol layers originating from two different volcanic eruptions shows certain similarities, their chemical composition as well as their radiative forcing are very dissimilar. This fact has to be considered in general circulation models to evaluate the climate forcing of volcanic eruptions.

The eruptions of the Kasatochi volcano on 7 and 8 August 2008 led to an enhanced stratospheric aerosol load which was studied with the Koldewey Aerosol Raman Lidar (KARL) and the Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL) at the French-German Arctic Research Base AWIPEV in Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen at 78.55°N, 11.56°E. During all KARL measurements from 15 August to 24 September 2008 (approximately 30 h of data), we detected distinct layers of enhanced aerosol backscatter in the lower stratosphere and the tropopause region, whose origination at the Kasatochi site can be shown by trajectory calculations. We found a 125% increase in aerosol optical depth compared to the mean values from 2004 to 2007 at 3 weeks after the eruption, validated by sunphotometer measurements. Differences in volume depolarization and color ratio signatures of the layers indicate a sinking movement of the bigger particles to the layer bottom. Furthermore, within higher stratospheric aerosol layers monitored after 25 August 2008, we observed the volume depolarization maximum to be up to 0.8 km below the backscatter maximum. Backscatter and depolarization measurements from 1 September 2008, on which data were collected over 13 h during daylight and darkness, are analyzed in detail. Calculations of the lidar ratio in the lowest aerosol layer as well as the estimation of microphysical parameters of the aerosol particles were performed.

In-situ aerosol data collected in the Arctic troposphere during a three-week period in 2004 were analysed. The measurements took place during late spring, i.e., at the time of the year when the characteristics of the aerosol distribution change from being accumulation-mode dominated to being primarily of the Aitken-mode type, a process that previously has been observed in the boundary layer. To address the question whether this transition is also detectable in the free troposphere of an aircraft-measured data from the ASTAR 2004 campaign were analysed. In this study, we present vertically as well as temporally results from both ground-based and airborne measurements of the total number concentrations of particles larger than 10 and 260 nm. Aircraft-measured size distributions of the aerosol ranging from 20 to 2200 nm have been evaluated with regard to conditions in the boundary layer as well as in the free troposphere. Furthermore an analysis of the volatile fraction of the aerosol population has been performed both for the integrated and size-distributed results. From these investigations we find that the transition takes place in the entire troposphere., Part of urn:nbn:se:su:diva-7524

Aerosols play a crucial role in radiative transfer processes. For improving the results of modeling due to aerosol effects, a detailed determination of atmospheric aerosol is required. For the monitoring of aerosol optical depth in the Arctic, a Star photometer for polar night observation has been established in Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen (79°N, 12°E) in 1996. AOD data from the Antarctic plateau are presently very sparse. Year-round aerosol measurements will close this gap and allow a detailed study of the inter-annual and seasonal variations of over the high interior plateau. It is planned to install a Star photometer in Antarctica at Dome Concordia (75°S, 123°E, 3230 m a.s.l) in 2009.