Observations of Meteorological Profiles, Clouds and Radiative Fluxes Over the Arctic Ocean during SOP-NH2

Abstract

In the 2018 Arctic Expedition of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) IBRV Araon (4th August to 20th September), ship-borne meteorological observations (e.g., radiosondes, micro-pulse lidar, cloud camera, radiometer, etc.) were enhanced to fulfill our committed mission for the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP)’s Northern Hemispheric Special Observing Period 2 (SOP-NH2). For the entire cruise period, we obtained vertical profiles of meteorological variables (temperature, humidity, pressure and horizontal winds) and clouds, sky cloud images, and surface radiative fluxes over a variety of surface and synoptic conditions. In particular, we allowed the regular 6-hourly radiosonde data on-line by broadcasting them real-time via the Global Telecommunication System (GTS). The additional real-time radiosonde vertical profiles in the high-latitude Arctic Ocean are valuable products for contributing to their impacts on operational weather forecasts in the NH Arctic and mid-latitudes. Those data have been used to assess the predictability impact by their additional assimilation to the in-house forecast system of KOPRI. The combined ship-borne observations will be applied for various studies on the characteristic variability of the vertical distribution of Arctic summer clouds and the quantification of surface radiative effects of Arctic summer clouds, which depend on synoptic patterns, inversion structures. Preliminary results will be analyzed after completion of the entire cruise and presented in the workshop.