Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory
Observatório Atmosferico de Cabo Verde: Humberto Duarte Fonseca*
The Cape
Verde Observatory
is part
of a bilateral
German-UK initiative to undertake long-term
ground- and ocean-based observations in the tropical Eastern North
Atlantic Ocean region. It links with the international programme SOLAS, the EU-funded TENATSO (Tropical
Eastern North Atlantic Time-Series Observatory) project, (see: IfM-GEOMAR
Kiel), and with the German SOPRAN (Surface Ocean Processes in the
Anthropocene) project, a proposed new "Verbundprojekt" of the German
Ministry for Research and Education.
The Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (16°51'49N, 24°52'02°W) (CVAO), exists to advance understanding of climatically-significant interactions between the atmosphere and ocean and to provide a regional focal point and long-term data context for field campaigns. Measurements of O3, CO, NO, NO2, NOy, VOC began at the site in October 2006 and recent data can be found at the British Atmospheric Data Centre (BADC). Chemical characterisation of aerosol measurements and flask sampling of greenhouse gases began in November 2006, halocarbon measurements in May 2007, and physical measurements of aerosol in June 2008. On-line measurements of greenhouse gases began in October 2008.
The Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (16°51'49N, 24°52'02°W) (CVAO), exists to advance understanding of climatically-significant interactions between the atmosphere and ocean and to provide a regional focal point and long-term data context for field campaigns. Measurements of O3, CO, NO, NO2, NOy, VOC began at the site in October 2006 and recent data can be found at the British Atmospheric Data Centre (BADC). Chemical characterisation of aerosol measurements and flask sampling of greenhouse gases began in November 2006, halocarbon measurements in May 2007, and physical measurements of aerosol in June 2008. On-line measurements of greenhouse gases began in October 2008.
It is an international
facility, providing quality-assured
atmospheric composition for use by both UK and German scientists, and
the wider
international community through contributions as a World Meteorological
Organisation-Global Atmospheric Watch (WMO-GAW)
station. The Universities of
York, Bristol and Leeds, provide
the CVAO trace gas measurements, supported by the Natural
Environmental Research Council NERC through the National Centre for
Atmospheric Science (NCAS) ,
Facility for Ground based
Atmospheric Monitoring (FGAM).
The
Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie, Jena, Germany (MPIB Jena) make
the greenhouse gas measurements, and the
Leibniz-Institut für Troposphärenforschung, Leipzig, Germany (IfT)
measure various characteristics of aerosol. Collaboration is also with the Instituto
Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica, São Vicente (INMG),
who provide logistical support and employ staff at the CVAO. The
sister ocean site
is a partnership of the Instituto Nacional de Desenvolvimento das
Pescas, São
Vicente (INDP), and
the
Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften, Kiel, Germany (IfM-GEOMAR Kiel).
Scientific activities at both sites are coordinated in collaboration with the above institutions.
Site Status Programme of Activities
Scientific activities at both sites are coordinated in collaboration with the above institutions.
Site Status Programme of Activities
