Northern Michigan Atmospheric Chemistry Characterized by PATH (Patterns in Atmospheric Transport History): Meteorological Support of PROPHET

University Of Virginia Main Campus, Charlottesville VA

Investigators

Abstract

This project will provide meteorological support for the Program for Research on Oxidants: Photochemistry, Emissions, and Transport (PROPHET) at the University of Michigan Biological Station in rural Northern Michigan. The PROPHET program is a multi-investigator field study of photochemical processes involved in ozone formation. An integrated sounding system will be deployed at the site, consisting of a Doppler wind profiler, a Radio Acoustic Sounding System, a GLASS rawinsonde balloon launching facility, and a local meteorological tower measuring pressure, temperature, humidity, wind and radiation. This facility will provide routine vertical profiles of tropospheric winds, temperature and moisture throughout the troposphere in order to provide insight into the boundary layer dynamics at the PROPHET site. Previous field intensives have demonstrated that understanding boundary layer dynamics is critical to the interpretation of chemical variability observed at the site. The results of this study will provide key constraints on boundary layer transport processes occurring during the PROPHET 2000 and 2001 intensive field experiments.