Repairs and Upgrades for the Qikirtaarjuak Island Air-Ice-Ocean Observatory

Qikirtaarjuak 岛空气-冰-海洋观测站的维修和升级

• 批准号: RTI-2020-00170
• 负责人: Else, Brent
• 金额: $ 6.02万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=692281
• 关键词: Repairs; Upgrades; Qikirtaarjuak; Island; Air

Oceans play an important role in determining the composition of our atmosphere. The majority of our oxygen was generated in the oceans, and a large percentage of the CO2 produced by industrial activities ends up in the oceans. Gas exchange is the process by which these gases cross the air-sea boundary, and we have a good understanding of how it works in the open ocean. However in polar seas, the presence of sea ice makes air-sea gas exchange extremely complicated. Since sea ice affects about 10% of global oceans, climate scientists need to know how greenhouse gases, like CO2, are exchanged in the presence of sea ice. Unfortunately, only a few studies have directly measured gas exchange in this environment due to the challenges of working in remote locations, and the expense of working on icebreakers.******Our research lab has developed an innovative approach to solve this problem. We built a weather station on a small island that is completely surrounded by sea ice in winter. This island is close to an Inuit community (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut), which makes it easier to maintain the station. At the station, we deployed instruments to measure CO2 exchange using the eddy covariance technique. Eddy covariance essentially works by counting CO2 molecules as they blow past the weather station on updrafts and downdrafts. It is the only suitable technique for this type of environment, because it measures an upwind surface (to about 1 km), without actually touching the surface. With this system, we have produced the first-ever measurements of CO2 exchange through a seasonal cycle of ice melt, open water, and freeze-up.******Unfortunately, this past spring our weather station was damaged by the unpredictable forces of nature. In less than 30 minutes, a northerly wind pushed ice floes onto the island, piling up a wall of ice that knocked the tower down. All of our eddy covariance instruments were damaged by the fall, and the tower itself was destroyed. This grant application will allow us to buy a new tower, repair the damaged instruments, and buy additional instruments to avoid future data interruptions.******With timely funding, the station can be rebuilt before next melt season, allowing students and postdoctoral fellows to continue their hands-on training, and complete their research projects. Rebuilding the station will also allow us to continue research initiatives linked to the local Inuit community. Working with community leaders, we use the station to test innovations that support Inuit research priorities like observing weather conditions, monitoring ship traffic, and listening for whales. We also use the station as part of a training program that develops Inuit environmental monitoring capacity, and facilitates cross-cultural collaboration between southern and northern HQPs. Rebuilding this station is critical for continuing our inclusive, innovative science program.

海洋在确定我们气氛的组成方面起着重要作用。我们的大部分氧气都是在海洋中产生的，而工业活动产生的二氧化碳中很大一部分最终出现在海洋中。天然气交换是这些气体越过空气海边界的过程，我们对其在开阔的海洋中的工作方式有很好的了解。然而，在极地海洋中，海冰的存在使空气气体交换变得极为复杂。由于海冰影响了大约10％的全球海洋，因此气候科学家需要知道在海冰存在下如何交换温室气体（例如CO2）。不幸的是，由于在偏远地区工作的挑战以及在破冰船上工作的费用，只有少量研究直接测量了这种环境中的气体交换。******我们的研究实验室开发了一种创新的方法来解决这个问题。我们在一个小岛上建造了一个气象站，该小岛在冬天完全被海冰包围。 这个岛靠近因纽特人社区（剑桥湾，努纳武特），这使维护车站更容易。在车站，我们使用涡流协方差技术部署了仪器来测量二氧化碳交换。埃迪协方差实质上是通过计算二氧化碳分子在上升气流和下水道上吹过气象站时起作用的。它是用于此类环境的唯一合适技术，因为它可以测量上风的表面（约1 km），而无需实际接触表面。有了这个系统，我们通过冰融化，开放水和冻结的季节性周期生产了有史以来第一个二氧化碳交换的测量。自然力量。在不到30分钟的时间里，一条北风将冰浮在岛上，堆积了冰墙，将塔撞倒了。 我们所有的涡流协方差仪器都被秋天损坏了，塔本身被摧毁。该赠款申请将使我们能够购买新的塔楼，维修损坏的工具并购买其他工具以避免将来的数据中断。******及时资金，可以在下一个融化季节之前重建该电台，允许学生和学生和学生博士后研究员继续他们的动手培训，并完成研究项目。重建车站还将使我们能够继续与当地因纽特人社区相关的研究计划。与社区领导者合作，我们使用该站来测试支持因纽特人研究重点的创新，例如观察天气状况，监视船舶交通和聆听鲸鱼。我们还将该电台用作培训计划的一部分，该计划开发了Inuit环境监测能力，并促进了南部和北部HQP之间的跨文化合作。重建该站对于继续我们的包容性，创新的科学计划至关重要。