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DLR-ISIS: A new global data set of solar irradiance

October 2006
Based on satellite data a global data set covering more than 21 years was derived at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics describing the amount and the variability of the solar irradiance impinging the earth's surface. DLR-ISIS is calculated with the radiative transfer code libRadtran that was developed at the Institute. It is based on the cloud climatology ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) provided by NASA and global data sets of aerosol, water vapour and ozone distribution. On the one hand the data set is used for climatological purposes. On the other hand DLR-ISIS data are needed for solar energy applications. The profitability of large solar power plants is examined through stable long-term averages as well as specifications of the interannual variability of the solar radiation and regional long-term changes. Therefore results from the DLR-ISIS data set were already used during the planning of the first large solar thermal power plant Andasol.

Climate impact of worldwide hydrogen propulsion in aviation assessed

September 2006
The growing rates of aviation are above average. This leads to considerations if the related environmental and climate impact could be limited by using liquid hydrogen as fuel. A new DLR-study summarizes the current knowledge on atmospheric impact of aviation and assesses the potential of a technological switch to reduce the climate effects. Individual contributions of CO2, nitric oxides, and water vapour emissions as well as line-shaped contrail formation have been included. Transient transition scenarios are considered that assume gradual implementation of the new technology between 2015 and 2050. The sum of effects is assessed to give an impact reduction of between 15 % and 50 % (best estimate 30 % in case of a transition until 2050) in terms of global radiative forcing in 2050, compared to a pure kerosene scenario. The reduction range is between 5 % and 15 % (best estimate 10 %) in terms of global surface temperature change in 2050. In the long range the reduction potential is larger as the avoidance of CO2 emissions effects the climate slowly but sustainably, due to the long lifetime of this gas. Not included in the current assessment are the effects of contrail spreading and indirect cloud effects. More research work is needed to quantify these effects. The possibility to produce large amounts of liquid hydrogen without extra fossil fuel burning is also an open question. Nevertheless, the study forms a first basis for future considerations to use liquid hydrogen technology in aviation, allowing to intercompare potential environmental gains with the economic effort that would go along with a change of technology. The new study is essentially based on results of the European research projects "CRYOPLANE" and "TRADEOFF". download the full article Ponater,M. et al.: Potential of the cryoplane technology to reduce aircraft climate impact - a state of the art assessment, Atmos. Environ. 40 (2006) from ScienceDirect (subscription required)

First Measurements of Monsoon Storms over West Africa

August 2006
Since 1 August the research aircraft M55-Geophysica and Falcon operate out of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. They participate in the international campaign AMMA (African Monsoon - Multidisciplinary Analyses) and specifically investigate the thunderstorm systems and the transport processes connected with the West African Monsoon. The Geophysica deployment is sponsored by a European Consortium Geophysica-EEIG under DLR participation. The Falcon is jointly supported by AMMA-EU and DLR. Both aircraft are equipped with comprehensive trace gas and particle measuring systems. The Geophysica can cover heights up to 20 km, the Falcon up to 12.5 km. Of special interest is the formation of ozone and the transformation of reactive ozone precursors into long-lived trace substances in the wake of thunderstorms as well as the production of nitrogen oxides by lightning. Flashes can be measured by a network of dedicated lightning sensors installed in the neighbouring Republic of Benin. First successful measurements showed enhanced concentrations of nitrogen oxides in the proximity of thunderstorms near Niamey (Niger), in the northern parts of Burkina Faso as well as in aged air masses originating from thunderstorms active 24 hours earlier west of Ouagadougou. Already in July the Falcon was equipped with the WIND-Lidar and participated in joint measurements with international partners out of Niamey for investigating the build up of the monsoon. Research flights from Ouagadougou will be continued until 18 August.

DLR atmosphere researcher nominated as member of the “Junge Akademie”

July 2006
DLR atmosphere researcher nominated as member of the “Junge Akademie” July 2006 Dr. Christiane Voigt of the DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics was nominated as member of the “Junge Akademie” (Young Academy) of the „Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften“ and the „Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina“. The membership document was presented to the 35-year old scientist during a ceremony on 16 July 2006 in Munich. The membership is associated with a financial award to promote the interdisciplinary research of Dr. Voigt. One of her actual science topics is the investigation of the effect of cirrus clouds on the chemical composition of the atmosphere. In her special focus are those cirrus clouds that were generated by air traffic near the tropopause level. The effects on the heterogeneous chemistry in this altitude is of high programmatic relevance for the DLR.

Wüstenstaub-Experiment SAMUM in Marokko

Mai 2006
Am 18. Mai 2006 ist das Forschungsflugzeug Falcon 20E des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) zur Forschungskampagne SAMUM (Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment) ) der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft nach Marokko aufgebrochen. Gemeinsam mit Wissenschaftlern von sieben deutschen Forschungseinrichtungen untersuchen Mitarbeiter des DLR-Institutes für Physik der Atmosphäre drei Wochen lang bis zum 7. Juni intensiv die klimarelevanten Eigenschaften von Saharastaub. Schätzungen zufolge gelangen jährlich fünf Milliarden Tonnen Staub oder Aerosolpartikel durch natürliche oder vom Menschen verursachte Prozesse in die Atmosphäre. Der Anteil des Wüstenstaubes beträgt dabei etwa 1,5 Milliarden Tonnen. Mit Neun Millionen Quadratkilometern (das entspricht etwa 4/5 der Fläche Europas) ist die Sahara die größte Quellregion und trägt 60 Prozent zur gesamten Wüstenstaubemission bei. Trotz der großen Bedeutung der Wüsten als Partikelquelle sind viele klimawirksame Eigenschaften des Wüstenstaubes weitgehend unbekannt oder mit großen Unsicherheiten behaftet. So ist die Frage, ob die Staubausbrüche in der Sahara zu einer Klimaerwärmung oder –abkühlung beitragen, noch offen.

Solar activity cycle retards the recovery of the ozone layer

IPA participates in the Center of Excellence "Concentrating Solar Systems"

IPA contributes to ECMWF model improvement

IAGOS develops instruments for routine aerosol measurements onboard passenger aircraft

40 years of global atmospheric ozone concentration successfully simulated

Aircraft wake vortices for the first time measured by airborne Doppler Lidar

Weather information improves energy supply - DLR and University of Oldenburg found Virtual Institute of Energy Meteorology

EU project QUANTIFY successfully started

ECATS contributes to an environmentally compatible air transport

IPA investigates the environmental impact of Alpine transit routes