Journal

The Gang's All Here

Our IABP AK Spring 22 Deployment Expedition team is finally all here.

Sarah R Johnson, Climate Educator; Ignatius Rigor, Climatologist ; John Woods, Oceanographer; Cy Keener, Art Professor; and Ben Cohen, Data Scientist
Sarah R Johnson, Climate Educator; Ignatius Rigor, Climatologist ; John Woods, Oceanographer; Cy Keener, Art Professor; and Ben Cohen, Data Scientist.

Collecting Citizen Science Data with NASA GLOBE Observer

We have been collecting NASA GLOBE Observer clouds and landcover data. We've seen the observations many of you have been making on our team map, and we encourage many more of you to try out GLOBE Observer on your smartphone wherever you are; (see how to here). We have prizes for you if you participate (details)!

NASA GLOBE Visualization
NASA GLOBE Visualization data map https://vis.globe.gov/GLOBE/

Barrow NOAA Barrow ObservatoryA location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events.

NOAA Barrow Observatory sign in Utqiaġvik, Alaska
NOAA Barrow Observatory sign in Utqiaġvik, Alaska; photo by Sarah R Johnson

Today we toured the brand new NOAA Barrow Atmospheric Baseline ObservatoryA location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events. (BRW) very near the northernmost point (71.325° N, 156.625° W) of the U.S.A. that is now connected to a high-capacity fiber optic link.

NOAA Barrow Observatory in Utqiaġvik, Alaska
NOAA Barrow Observatory in Utqiaġvik, Alaska https://arctic.noaa.gov/Report-Card/Report-Card-2020/ArtMID/7975/ArticleID/908/New-Arctic-Research-Facility-Opens-Door-to-Science-Collaborations

The BRW is part of a network of observatories on Mauna Loa, Hawaii, American Samoa, and at the South Pole as foundational atmospheric research observatories spanning the length of the Pacific Ocean. The mission of the observatory is measure atmospheric gasses and elements that impact climate change.

The long-term observations of atmosphere composition as it realtes to climate change, ozone depletion, and air quality have been collected at BRW since it's beginnings in 1973. Being at its unique 'top of the world' location it is a critical member of multiple international observatory networks, including the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) and the Global CryosphereThe frozen part of the Earth's surface. The cryosphere includes the polar ice caps, continental ice sheets, mountain glaciers, sea ice, snow cover, lake and river ice, and permafrost. For more information about the cryosphere, click here. Watch (GCW) networks, that document change on a global scale. Also, BRW is part of the International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere (IASOA), an effort to coordinate intensive long-term measurements collected across the Arctic.

Here is a virtual tour (storymap) of the observatory.

Sarah R. Johnson with freshly bottled air from the Barrow Atmospheric Baseline Observatory and labeled with current ppm of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Sarah R. Johnson with freshly sampled and bottled air from the Barrow Atmospheric Baseline Observatory and labeled with the current 423ppm (parts per million) of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Photo by Ignatius Rigor

Global Monitoring Laboratory Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide current data
Global Monitoring Laboratory Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide current data https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/gl_trend.html

Engage with IABP AK Spring 22 Deployment Expedition

Details
Author
Sarah Johnson
Date
Location
Naval Arctic Research Laboratory
Expedition
International Arctic Buoy Program
Weather Summary
cold, blue sky, clear
Temperature
-5° F
Wind Speed
22mph
Wind Chill
-29° F

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