SCOUT-03: Stratosphere-climate links with emphasis on the UTLS

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0352-4

Key words (English)

Climate change; stratosphere; ozone

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 505390

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 1.6.3 Urspr. Progr. Global change and ecosystems

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos
Weltstrahlungszentrum
Director PMOD /WRC

Abstract (English)

The central aim of this research is to provide best scientific knowledge for international assessments on ozone depletion and climate change for the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols. These protocols, and the associated energy, environment and emission policies, are of fundamental importance to European quality of life and competitiveness. Reliable prediction of the future evolution of the ozone layer and surface UV is urgently required as a basis for informed decisions by European policy makers. The state of the ozone layer over the next decades will depend on the interplay between climate change and the impact and evolution of ozone depleting substances such as CFCs. The Montreal Protocol has successfully reduced emissions and atmospheric concentrations of CFCs, which should return to their pre-ozone hole concentrations by about 2050. However, the ozone layer will most likely not return to its pre-ozone hole state and so the central question of the Montreal process - How and when will ozone and UV radiation recover as CFC concentrations fall? -remains. In order to provide essential advice to policy makers, the answer to that question is required within the next years. In this ambitious integrated project, the European predictive capability is strengthened by focusing effort on 6 main interlinked areas of research: coupled chemistry/climate models; the tropical UTLS; extra tropical ozone and water vapour; UV radiation; global modelling; and fundamental chemical and microphysical processes. Strong scientific management, built on Europe's excellent previous experience in stratospheric science, brings together a critic mass of European experts in laboratory studies, atmospheric measurements and modelling. It exploits new satellite data, such as from ENVISAT, and new modelling approaches (e.g. fully-coupled chemistry-climate models; and the growing interaction with the numerical weather forecasting community), and takes advantage of new and existing research facilities.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0352-4