The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE)

ACE Primary Science Goal

To investigate the chemical and dynamical processes that control the distribution of ozone in the stratosphere and upper troposphere with a particular focus on the Arctic winter stratosphere. To accomplish this, Temperature and pressure will be measured. ACE will measure the concentrations of more than 30 molecules as a function of altitude. Aerosols will be measured and quantified.

Atmospheric Structure

UV photon

O2 + h 2O* 2O* + 2O2 2O3* Excess energy goes into thermal motion of molecules.

Volume Mixing Ratio

Ratio of gas partial pressure to total pressure. Variation with altitude gives information on chemical or photochemical processes
CO2 Vmr Profile
120

Ozone Vmr Profile

120 100 Altitude (km) 80 60
Altitude (km)

100 80 60
Altitude (km)

CO Vmr Profile
120 100 80 60 40 20 0 0 50 100 150 200
vmr (parts per million by volume)

40 20

40
0

20 0 0 2 4 6 8

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

vmr (parts per million by volume)

10

vmr (parts per million by volume)

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Cl + O3 ClO + O2 ClO + O Cl + O2

Stratospheric Chlorine
The long lifetimes of CFCs led to increasing Cl into the stratosphere (a very bad thing). Eventually the Cl gets taken up in reservoir molecules such as HCl and ClONO2. e.g., ClO + NO2 + M ClONO2 + M However, atomic Cl can be released in large quantities as a result of processes that occur during polar winter, leading to ozone losses.

Ozone Hole
Every year during September/October (spring in the Southern Hemisphere), there occurs a region of severe ozone depletion over Antarctica dubbed the ozone hole. During the winter, a strong circumpolar wind (the polar vortex) develops in the middle to lower stratosphere. Air does not easily move across the polar vortex boundary (isolating the air inside).

Ozone Hole (continued)

Temperature inside the polar vortex gets very cold. For temperatures below -80 C, clouds composed primarily of HNO3 (polar stratospheric clouds or PSCs) form. Reactions that occur slowly (or not at all) in gas phase readily proceed on the surface of PSC particles (heterogeneous reactions). e.g., HCl + ClONO2 HNO3 + Cl2 HNO3 remains in cloud particle, while Cl2 is released into the stratosphere.

Ozone Hole (continued)

No sunlight reaches the South Polar stratosphere during the winter. When sunlight returns in the spring, Cl2 is photolysed into Cl atoms. Rampant ozone destruction ensues. HNO3 tied up in PSC particles. Low nitrogen and hydrogen levels slows the creation of chlorine reservoir molecules, exacerbating the destruction. Recovery after polar vortex breakdown.

Antarctic Ozone

Fixing the Problem

Montreal Protocol signed in 1987 to phase out the use of CFCs. CFC replacements hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). HFCs contain no chlorine. HCFCs are much more reactive than CFCs. They undergo reactions in the troposphere that can remove them (e.g., conversion to water soluble species that get rained out). Less Cl transported to the stratosphere.

HCl and ClONO2 Trends

Role of ACE
Investigate PSCs, particularly composition. Monitor stratospheric chlorine levels. Monitor CFCs and CFC replacements. Monitor molecules associated with polar spring chemistry (e.g., ClO and ClONO2), particularly at altitudes where PSCs are present.

Arctic Ozone
No ozone hole occurs in the Arctic. Arctic winter temperatures are not as cold as for Antarctic winter. The polar vortex is also less stable in the Arctic. However, sharp declines in ozone levels are often observed during March/April (spring in the Northern Hemisphere). The reasons for the declines are similar to the cause of the Antarctic ozone hole (chlorine activation via PSCs).

Polar Spring Ozone

Mid-Latitude Ozone Decline

Mid-Latitudes
Declines at mid-latitudes arise from a variety of sources: CFCs, mixing of ozone-depleted air from polar spring events, heterogeneous reactions on aerosol particles. The extent of the losses cannot be explained by current models. Most recent mid-latitude measurements indicate that the losses have leveled off, likely related to the peaking of chlorine levels.

Chemistry-Climate Coupling
A model predicts there may be an Arctic ozone hole in the 2010-2020 timeframe. Chlorine levels are decreasing, but greenhouse gas (e.g., CO2, CH4, N2O) levels are increasing. Greenhouse gases warm the surface but lead to a cooling of the stratosphere. A colder Arctic polar winter stratosphere would lead to a more stable polar vortex and more PSCs more ozone loss.

Arctic Ozone Predictions

Data Assimilation
More reliable model predictions are needed for the future of Arctic ozone. Long lead times would be required to implement policy changes for greenhouse gas reductions. ACE measurements (and other satellite mission measurements and airplane- and balloon- and ground-based data) needs to be assimilated into models to improve the reliability of the predictions.

ACE Satellite

Instruments
Infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometer operating between 750 and 4100 cm-1 with a resolution of 0.02 cm-1. 2-channel visible/near infrared Imagers, operating at 0.525 and 1.02 microns Suntracker keeps the instruments pointed at the suns radiometric center. UV / Visible spectrometer (MAESTRO) 0.285 to 1.03 microns, resolution ~1-2 nm Startracker

ACE Payload

ACE-FTS

MAESTRO (Flight Model)

Optical Layout (Bomem)

INT corner-cube mirror (11) Beam splitter/ com pensator assem (8) bly INT corner-cube m irror (10) (12): Reflective coating (9): B/S coating (12) Laser M etrology Detection (9) End m irror (13) IR Filter (7)

Output condenser (14) Cooler window (17) Glare stop (16) Dichroic

Fold m irror (15)

Beam splitter Com pensator Laser M etrology Insertion 1.02 m Dichroic filter (25) (24) Lenses Fold m irror (23) (22) 0.525 m filter (27)
Aperture stop (4)

1.02 m imager (26)

Glare stop

Field stop (5)

Seconday m irror (6)

Lens
PV MCT Detector (18)

Lens
PV InSb Detector

0.525 m im ager (28) Lenses (20) Quad Cell (21)

Suntracker m irror (1) VIS/NIR-Quad Cell Dichroic

1.55 m filter (19) Primary m irror (3)

M AEST RO Interface (2)

Solar input

Integration to S/C Bus

Solar Occultation

ACE Orbit
90 60

Latitude
650 km, 74 inclined circular orbit

30

-30

-60

-90 25-Jul

24-Aug

23-Sep

23-Oct

22-Nov

22-Dec

21-Jan

20-Feb

21-Mar

20-Apr

20-May

19-Jun

19-Jul

Day of Year

Timeline
Jan. Feb. Mar. Jun. Sept. Mar. May Aug. Sept. 1998 Proposal to CSA 2001 FTS and Imager CDR 2001 MAESTRO CDR 2001 Bus CDR 2002 S/C integration & test 2003 Instrument test (Toronto) 2003 Final integration (DFL) 2003 Launch 2003 Commissioning

ACE Testing
Science testing led by Kaley Walker and Mike Butler Integrate all instruments (FTS, MAESTRO and imagers) and characterize their performance in a simulated space environment Science Test Objectives: Determine performance of FTS using passive cooler Make gas cell measurements using FTS / MAESTRO Perform complete imager testing Characterize suntracker pointing coordinates

Instrument Calibration Facility (U of Toronto)

Cold Shroud

TVAC window

Class 10000 clean-room with 2.0 m diameter x 5.0 m Thermal Vacuum chamber

ICF Control room

Testing the Passive Cooler

Detectors cooled to ~ 89 K by directing the FTS passive cooler at the He target

Multi-layer insulation (MLI)

Gas cell measurements

HgXe lamp Gas Cell

to TVAC Window

3000C Blackbody

Gas Cell

ACE-FTS Test Data & Results

MCT band
H 2O H 2O

InSb band

N 2O H 2O N 2O N 2O CO2

Detector 89 K, Instrument Nominal Temperature, ~12.0 Torr N2O

ACE-FTS InSb Spectra

10.0 -0.80

U. Toronto Gas Cell

NO2 Absorption Spectrum
-0.60

8.0

MAESTRO Gas Cell Data

-0.40

6.0

4.0

-0.20

Hi-resolution Data from NOAA Smoothed with 1.6 nm FWHM Triangular Filter
C.T. McElroy 2003-04-03

2.0

0.00 400

420

440

460

480

0.0 500

Wavelength [nm]

Smoothed NOAA Cross-sections [Units 1E-19 cm2]

Absorption Cell Measurements [ log( I / Io ) ]

MAESTRO Response to NO2

Pegasus XL Launch Vehicle

Pegasus XL Close-up

FTS-2 (PARIS) in Quebec

Waterloo Atmospheric Observatory

Status of Observatory Site:
WAO

Building completed August 2003.

Conclusions
ACE successfully launched Aug 12th, 2003. The satellite is currently undergoing commissioning. Initial science measurements to hopefully occur toward the end of October, 2003. Baseline duration of the mission is 2 years.