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Reconciliation of essential process parameters for an enhanced predictability of arctic stratospheric ozone loss and its climate interactions

Activity Code: ENV.2008.1.1.2.1
Coordinator: Marc von Hobe, ICG-1: Stratosphere, Forschungszentrum Jülich

Abstract:

The extent of polar stratospheric ozone loss often referred to as the Ozone Hole is significantly influenced by climate change, and in turn, stratospheric ozone has been recognized as an important component in the climate system. To accurately quantify the effects of climate change on stratospheric ozone and the related feedback mechanisms, as well as to make reliable predictions of future ozone loss and the so-called recovery date, a correct representation of all relevant processes is indispensable. However, a number of gaps in the understanding of these processes still exist.

The issues where the lack of understanding is most palpable are

  • the catalytic ClOx/BrOx chemistry
  • chlorine activation on cold stratospheric aerosol
  • NAT nucleation mechanisms
  • mixing and transport of processed air to lower latitudes.

The RECONCILE project sets out to address all these issues using a comprehensive approach that includes laboratory and field experiments together with microphysical and chemical transport modelling.
RECONCILE will produce and test reliable parameterisations of the key processes in Arctic stratospheric ozone depletion and bridge these to large scale chemistry climate models (CCMs), thereby greatly enhancing their ability to realistically predict the future evolution of Arctic stratospheric ozone loss and the interaction with climate change.

Project Details:

Start Date: 01.03.2009
End Date: 28.02.2013
EU Contribution: 3.5 Mio. Euro
Total Costs: 4.66 Mio. Euro
Funding Scheme: Small or medium-scale focused research project
Administrative Contact Person: Günter Lincks, g.lincks@fz-juelich.de
Scientific Coordinator: Marc von Hobe,  m.von.hobe@fz-juelich.de
Project Website:https://www.fp7-reconcile.eu/

Partners:

  • Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration,United States
  • Central Aerological Observatory, Russian Federation
  • CSEM Centre Suisse d´Electronique et de Microtechnique SA - Recherche et Developpement, Switzerland
  • Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Germany
  • Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem, Hungary
  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar und Meeresforschung, Germany
  • Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V., Germany
  • Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning, Norway
  • Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Switzerland
  • MET Office, United Kingdom
  • Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Germany
  • Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Italy
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France
  • Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany
  • Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V., Germany
  • The Chancellors, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge, UK