Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
analyze the variability of the system of American monsoons. Also of great
importance are studies of the role of processes in the ocean in climate formation,
including problems such as variability of thermohaline circulation in the Atlantic
Ocean; dynamics and predictability of the intra-tropical convergence zone in the
Atlantic Ocean and its impact on regional climate; atmospheric forcings, their
connection with processes in the upper layer of the ocean and feedbacks with SAT,
including an assessment of the role of Kuroshio Current; and upwelling in the
Paci
c Ocean. In this connection, close attention is devoted to improvement of the
observational network in cooperation with GCOS (Global Climate Observation
System) and GOOS (Global Ocean Observation System).
An important place in the WCRP programme is occupied, as before, by the project
SPARC, the main goal of which is to study the climatic impact of the stratosphere,
taking into account interactive chemical, dynamic, and radiative processes that
control the atmospheric circulation in the stratosphere and its chemical composition,
including the ozone content whose changes determine variations of the UV solar
radiation that reaches the Earth
s surface (Kondratyev and Varotsos 1996, 2000;
Wauben et al. 1997). A substantial task of SPARC is recognition and quantitative
description of the long-term trends of the water vapour and ozone content in the
stratosphere, as well as temperature. The beginning of the second decade of the
SPARC functioning has been marked by close attention to such problems as
stratosphere-troposphere interaction (parameterization of the stratosphere in climate
models), interactive impact of chemical processes on climate, stratospheric indicators
of climate change, various aspects of the problems of assimilation of the data of
observations of stratospheric parameters. Creation of new models of the stratosphere
has opened up possibilities to reliably simulate the dynamics of the
'
in
the polar stratosphere. By the end of 2004, the estimation of the stratospheric aerosol
dynamics was completed, and a new initiative is to study the processes of formation
and evolution of polar stratospheric clouds.
General SPARC themes and activities address areas of societal concern such as:
“
ozone hole
”
Climate variability and change. A central issue within SPARC is the impact of
changing atmospheric composition on circulation and weather, from increasing
surface temperatures to severe weather events and rising sea-levels. The
stratosphere represents a signi
cant source of variability and internal memory of
the climate system.
Ozone. Ozone and the ozone layer are of major concern to life on Earth. SPARC
provides key scienti
c support to the WMO/UNEP Ozone Assessments that are
produced every 4 years in accordance with the mandate of the signatories of the
Montreal Protocol.
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols. Atmospheric chemistry is a cornerstone
for understanding the evolution of the climate system. The effect of greenhouse
gases (GHGs) and ozone depleting substances (ODSs) has been to warm the
Earth
'
s surface, while cooling the stratosphere. SPARC has been actively
involved in advancing our understanding of the chemical processes that affect
climate.
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