Articles | Volume 13, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3439-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3439-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Data description paper
| 
14 Jul 2021
Data description paper |
| 14 Jul 2021
| 14 Jul 2021
The NY-Ålesund TurbulencE Fiber Optic eXperiment (NYTEFOX): investigating the Arctic boundary layer, Svalbard
Marie-Louise Zeller
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany
Jannis-Michael Huss
Micrometeorology Group, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Lena Pfister
Micrometeorology Group, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
now at: Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Karl E. Lapo
Micrometeorology Group, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, BayCEER, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Daniela Littmann
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany
Johann Schneider
Micrometeorology Group, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Alexander Schulz
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany
Christoph K. Thomas
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Micrometeorology Group, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, BayCEER, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
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Zsófia Jurányi, Christof Lüpkes, Frank Stratmann, Jörg Hartmann, Jonas Schaefer, Anna-Marie Jörss, Alexander Schulz, Bruno Wetzel, David Simon, Eduard Gebhard, Maximilian Stöhr, Paula Hofmann, Dirk Kalmbach, Sarah Grawe, Manfred Wendisch, and Andreas Herber
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 3477–3494, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3477-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3477-2025, 2025
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Understanding the lowest layers of the atmosphere is crucial for climate research, especially in the Arctic. Our study introduces the T-Bird, an aircraft-towed platform designed to measure turbulence and aerosol properties at extremely low altitudes. Traditional aircraft cannot access this region, making the T-Bird a breakthrough for capturing critical atmospheric data. Its first deployment over the Arctic demonstrated its potential to improve our understanding of polar processes.
Mohammad Abdoli, Reza Pirkhoshghiyafeh, and Christoph K. Thomas
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2328, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2328, 2025
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We used computer simulations to improve how fiber-optic cables measure wind direction. These heated cables have small cones attached to sense how air moves around them. We found that hollow cone designs detect airflow more accurately than earlier versions. This helps us better understand air movement near the ground and could improve the physical foundations of weather and climate models.
Andrew W. Seidl, Aina Johannessen, Alena Dekhtyareva, Jannis M. Huss, Marius O. Jonassen, Alexander Schulz, Ove Hermansen, Christoph K. Thomas, and Harald Sodemann
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2024-293, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2024-293, 2024
Revised manuscript under review for ESSD
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ISLAS2020 set out to measure the stable water isotopic composition of Arctic moisture. By not only measuring at different sites around Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, but also measuring at variable heights above surface level, we aim to characterize processes that produce or modify the isotopic composition. We also collect precipitation samples from sites that were typically downstream of Ny-Ålesund, so as to capture the isotopic composition during removal from the atmospheric water cycle.
Eike Maximilian Esders, Christoph Georgi, Wolfgang Babel, Andreas Held, and Christoph Karl Thomas
Aerosol Research, 2, 235–243, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-235-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-235-2024, 2024
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Our study explores how tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics (MPs), move through the air. We focus on their journey in a wind tunnel to mimic atmospheric transport. Depending on the air speed and the height of their release, they move downwards or upwards. These results suggest that MPs behave like mineral particles and that we can expect MPs to accumulate where natural dust also accumulates in the environment, offering insights for predicting the spread and impacts of MPs.
Julius Seidler, Markus N. Friedrich, Christoph K. Thomas, and Anke C. Nölscher
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 137–153, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-137-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-137-2024, 2024
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Here, we study the transport of ultrafine particles (UFPs) from an airport to two new adjacent measuring sites for 1 year. The number of UFPs in the air and the diurnal variation are typical urban. Winds from the airport show increased number concentrations. Additionally, considering wind frequencies, we estimate that, from all UFPs measured at the two sites, 10 %–14 % originate from the airport and/or other UFP sources from between the airport and site.
Eike Maximilian Esders, Sebastian Sittl, Inka Krammel, Wolfgang Babel, Georg Papastavrou, and Christoph Karl Thomas
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15835–15851, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15835-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15835-2023, 2023
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Do microplastics behave differently from mineral particles when they are exposed to wind? We observed plastic and mineral particles in a wind tunnel and measured at what wind speeds the particles start to move. The results indicate that microplastics start to move at smaller wind speeds as they weigh less and are less sticky. Hence, we think that microplastics also move more easily in the environment.
Mohammad Abdoli, Karl Lapo, Johann Schneider, Johannes Olesch, and Christoph K. Thomas
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 809–824, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-809-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-809-2023, 2023
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In this study, we compute the distributed sensible heat flux using a distributed temperature sensing technique, whose magnitude, sign, and temporal dynamics compare reasonably well to estimates from classical eddy covariance measurements from sonic anemometry. Despite the remaining uncertainty in computed fluxes, the results demonstrate the potential of the novel method to compute spatially resolving sensible heat flux measurement and encourage further research.
Wolfgang Fischer, Christoph K. Thomas, Nikita Zimov, and Mathias Göckede
Biogeosciences, 19, 1611–1633, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1611-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1611-2022, 2022
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Arctic permafrost ecosystems may release large amounts of carbon under warmer future climates and may therefore accelerate global climate change. Our study investigated how long-term grazing by large animals influenced ecosystem characteristics and carbon budgets at a Siberian permafrost site. Our results demonstrate that such management can contribute to stabilizing ecosystems to keep carbon in the ground, particularly through drying soils and reducing methane emissions.
Karl Lapo, Anita Freundorfer, Antonia Fritz, Johann Schneider, Johannes Olesch, Wolfgang Babel, and Christoph K. Thomas
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 885–906, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-885-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-885-2022, 2022
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The layer of air near the surface is poorly understood during conditions with weak winds. Further, it is even difficult to observe. In this experiment we used distributed temperature sensing to observe air temperature and wind speed at thousands of points simultaneously every couple of seconds. This incredibly rich data set can be used to examine and understand what drives the mixing between the atmosphere and surface during these weak-wind periods.
Teresa Vogl, Amy Hrdina, and Christoph K. Thomas
Biogeosciences, 18, 5097–5115, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5097-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5097-2021, 2021
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The relaxed eddy accumulation technique is a method used for measuring fluxes of chemical species in the atmosphere. It relies on a proportionality factor, β, which can be determined using different methods. Also, different techniques for sampling can be used by only drawing air into the measurement system when vertical wind velocity exceeds a certain threshold. We compare different ways to obtain β and different threshold techniques to direct flux measurements for three different sites.
Olli Peltola, Karl Lapo, Ilkka Martinkauppi, Ewan O'Connor, Christoph K. Thomas, and Timo Vesala
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 2409–2427, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-2409-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-2409-2021, 2021
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We evaluated the suitability of fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) for observing spatial (>25 cm) and temporal (>1 s) details of airflow within and above forests. The DTS measurements could discern up to third-order moments of the flow and observe spatial details of coherent flow motions. Similar measurements are not possible with more conventional measurement techniques. Hence, the DTS measurements will provide key insights into flows close to roughness elements, e.g. trees.
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Short summary
The boundary layer (BL) is well understood when convectively mixed, yet we lack this understanding when it becomes stable and no longer follows classic similarity theories. The NYTEFOX campaign collected a unique meteorological data set in the Arctic BL of Svalbard during polar night, where it tends to be highly stable. Using innovative fiber-optic distributed sensing, we are able to provide unique insight into atmospheric motions across large distances resolved continuously in space and time.
The boundary layer (BL) is well understood when convectively mixed, yet we lack this...
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