Keith Lambkin – Chief Scientist Valentia Observatory UCD Class Trip 8th Oct 2010

From the Heights of Weather Balloonsto the Depths of Earthquakes

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tory Masters in Meteorology Class Field Trip to Masters in Meteorology Class Field Trip to

Valentia Observatory 2010Valentia Observatory 20108th Oct 20108th 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

11:50 Upper Air balloon launch and explanation of balloon launch equipment and tracking (Tour) Keith + Staff

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

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Today

Valentia Observatory

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MetMet ÉireannÉireann

MeteorologyMeteorology GeophysicsGeophysics

Solar Radiation

Phenology

Valentia ObservatoryValentia Observatory

Ozone

Lightning

Aerosol

Pollution

Upper Air

Synoptic Met Geomagnetism

Seismology

Today

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entia

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tory Surface Measurements

• Dry and Wet Bulb Temperature• Pressure• Wind Speed and Direction• Rainfall• Visibility• Cloud type and amount

Synoptic Meteorology

Synoptic codeDD9531700120320094125081705 10104 20092 30170 40207 57010 75052 886//333 86704 88706 92446555 3004 50098 6999 N0000=NNNN

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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

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tory • 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

Upper Air

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Upper Air

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Upper Air

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Upper Air10th Oct 2008

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James Reilly & Valentia Observatory

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Upper Air

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

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Air and Rainwater Pollution Monitoring

1.1. Air Monitoring:Air Monitoring:EMEP: NO2- (Nitrogen Dioxide) – daily measurementsEMEP: SO2- and SO4- (Sulphur Dioxide)

– using impregnated filters – daily measurements

2. Rainwater Sampling: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

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NO2 Pollution levels in Europe (Jan 03 – Jun 04)

Air and Rainwater Pollution Monitoring

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entia

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tory • SO2 and SO4 since 1981 – most extensive record in Ireland.

• NO2 since 1989 – most extensive in Ireland

Air and Rainwater Pollution Monitoring

From Bashir and McGovern 2004

Annual average SOAnnual average SO22 levels for the period 1980 to 2002 at Valentia levels for the period 1980 to 2002 at Valentia

Steve Smith - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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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

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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 F G H IPhoto: Eeva Kotilainen.

Phenology: the study of biological phase changes in Plants and Animals

Phenology

IPG & COST 725

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Length of Growing Season at Valentia Observatory

• 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

Adapted from Donnelly, Salamin and Jones 2005

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tory 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

Phenology

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Phenology

Phenology Summary

Valentia Observatory records phase changes on a number of ‘cloned’ trees

Why?

Phenology can by used as a climate change indicator

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Solar Radiation Measurements

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Solar Radiation Measurements

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Dublin Airport

Birr

Clones

Malin Head

Belmullet

Irish Primary Solar Radiation Network Irish TUCSON Solar Radiation Network

Solar Radiation Measurements

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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

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Ground Level OzoneGround Level Ozone Ozone

Analysis of surface ozone measurements at various sites over IrelandTripathi O.P., Jennings S.G., O’Dowd C.D., Coleman L., Leinert S., Moran E.Publication Pending in Journal of Geophysical Research

Ground Level Analyser

Environmental Protection Agency

National University of Ireland,

Galway

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Brewer Spectrophotometer #088

•Measures Total Column Ozone (DU)

• Spectral instrument

• Part of Global Ozone Observation System

• Automated / continuous measurements

• WOUDC & NDACC

Ozone

Total Column OzoneTotal Column Ozone

Tom McElroy, co-inventor (with Jim Kerr and David Wardle) of the Brewer Ozone Spectrophotometer

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Ozone

OzonesondesOzonesondes

Ozone Layer

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Ozone

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 measurementsTripathi, O.P., Jennings S.G., O’Dowd, C.D., Lambkin K.P., Moran, E.

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345

1950 1970 1990 2010Years

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ne in

DU

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0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

EESC

in p

pb

Total Ozone

EESC

(1994 – 2009) 11-year running mean of data for the month of March

Level Ozonesonde Brewer Satellite

Total

+2.32±1.24 DU/year

+6.6±3.5 % per decade

+1.75±0.25 DU/year

+4.9±0.7% per decade

+1.84±0.25 DU/year

+5.1±0.7% per decade

Validation of OMI Total Column Ozone using Ground-Based Brewer ObservationsDimitris Balis, Ellen Brinksma, Mark Kroon, Vassilis Amiridis and Christos Zerefos

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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

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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

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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

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• 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)

Aerosols

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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

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Geomagnetism

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Geomagnetism

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Eoin Moran / Michael Crean

2005o Member of INTERMAGNET – since 2001

o Member of MagNetE – since 2003

Geomagnetism

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Starting in 1888 – Valentia is one of oldest operational magnetic observatories in the world

Figure 1. Westerly Declination at Valentia, Eskdalemuir and Hartland

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15

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25

1900.5 1910.5 1920.5 1930.5 1940.5 1950.5 1960.5 1970.5 1980.5 1990.5 2000.5

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terly

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(deg

rees

)

Valentia Eskdalemuir Hartland

Geomagnetism

Valentia Magnetic Data Used for:Ordnance Survey IrelandIrish Aviation AuthorityCompass CalibrationsSolar Wind Research

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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

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Seismology

www.astronomynotes.com

P S

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tory o 1962 – 1999: World Wide Standardised

Seismographic Network station in conjunction with USGS

o 1999 to present: Broadband Seismic station in cooperation with DIAS

Seismology

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Where Valentia seismic data goes to:o DIAS (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)o USGS & BGSo European – Mediterranean Seismological Centreo International Seismological Centreo Blacknest

Seismology

http://seiscomp.cp.dias.ie/slmon/gifs/VAL.active.gif

Tonga 20 Mar 2009 7.9 magnitude

HAITI 2010 January 12 21:53:10 UTC Magnitude 7.0

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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)

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Thank You

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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

Val

entia

Obs

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tory

Upper Air

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

Val

entia

Obs

erva

tory

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

Val

entia

Obs

erva

tory

Phenology

Phenology Summary

Valentia Observatory records phase changes on a number of ‘cloned’ trees

Why?

Phenology can by used as a climate change indicator

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entia

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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

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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

Val

entia

Obs

erva

tory

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

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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

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entia

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tory

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

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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)