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<h1> MIDDLE ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS</h1>
<h2>A NorFA Workshop and Graduate Course</h2>
<p align="center"><strong>Place:</strong> Stockholm, Sweden<br />
<strong>Time:</strong> 1 week in late September or early October
2005.<br/>
(The exact dates will be announced in
March.)</p>
<p align="center"><strong>Local host:</strong> The Department of
Meteorology (MISU) at Stockholm University<br />
<strong>Local coordinators:</strong> Jörg Gumbel and Markus Rapp<p>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<p>There is a growing interest in <strong>aerosol particles in the mesosphere
and stratosphere</strong>. Extensive research has focussed on <strong>ice
particles</strong> and related phenomena like noctilucent clouds, polar
mesosphere summer echoes and polar stratospheric clouds. Less is known today
about the middle atmospheric <strong>background aerosol</strong>, its
properties, sources and sinks. Sulfate particles dominate the stratosphere,
while <strong>meteoric influx</strong> is thought to give rise to a global
mesospheric aerosol. Comprehensive in situ, laboratory and modelling studies
have recently been initiated to address the properties of such particles and
their potential role in the middle atmosphere.
<p>This NorFA course will give a broad overview over current knowledge about
aerosol particles in the middle atmosphere. It will cover the <strong>physical
and chemical processes</strong> involved in particle generation, the importance
of middle atmospheric <strong>transport</strong>, and the interactions of
particles with their <strong>neutral and charged environment</strong>. Important
sources to be discussed include transport from below, secondary production and
extraterrestrial input by meteoroids.</p>
<h3>Course Topics</h3>
<ul>
<li>Aeronomy of the middle atmosphere</li>
<ul>
<li>an introduction</li>
</ul>
<li>Meteoric material in the middle atmosphere</li>
<ul>
<li>bodies in the solar system</li>
<li>meteoroid ablation in the atmosphere</li>
<li>metal chemistry and formation of meteoric smoke</li>
</ul>
<li>Ice particles in the polar summer mesosphere</li>
<ul>
<li>noctilucent clouds</li>
<li>polar mesosphere summer echoes</li>
</ul>
<li>The stratospheric background aerosol</li>
<ul>
<li>sources from below</li>
<li>gas/particle processes</li>
<li>meteoric contributions</li>
</ul>
<li>Ice particles in the stratosphere</li>
<ul>
<li>polar stratospheric clouds (basic concepts)</li>
</ul>
<li>Particle properties and interactions</li>
<ul>
<li>microphysics of ice particles</li>
<li>heterogeneous processes</li>
<li>ion chemistry and clusters</li>
<li>laboratory techniques</li>
</ul>
<li>Measuring particles in the middle atmosphere</li>
<ul>
<li>in situ measurements</li>
<li>ground-based measurements by lidar</li>
<li>ground-based measurements by radars</li>
<li>remote sensing from space</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<h3>How is the Course Structured?</h3>
<p>Many topics of this course are very much at the frontline of present
knowledge. The <strong>graduate course</strong> will therefore be combined with
a <strong>scientific workshop</strong> involving both teachers and students in
the work. External teachers will contribute with competence that is not
available within the NorFA network. The local competence derives mainly from the
Atmospheric Physics group at MISU with its long experience of middle atmospheric
physics and chemistry.</p>
<p>The course / workshop will consist of lectures, seminars, and two projects.
Lectures and seminars will cover five full days in Stockholm. The two projects
are expected to take three days each; one project is to be prepared prior to the
course, one will be carried out after the course. The entire course will
correspond to 3 weeks of full time studies.</p>
<h3>"Hot Topics" for Workshop Discussions</h3>
<ul>
<li>Uncertainties in the microphyics of ice</li>
<li>Heterogeneous processes</li>
<li>Transport and lifetimes of particles in the middle atmosphere</li>
<li>Noctilucent clouds: trends and variability</li>
<li>The total meteoric mass influx into the atmosphere</li>
<li>New experimental results on meteoric smoke</li>
<li>Future experiments and model studies</li>
</ul>
<h3>How Can You Take Part?</h3>
<p>The course is open to graduate students with an interest in aerosols in the
middle atmosphere. Master students and post-docs may also be accepted
occasionally. There is no registration fee for this course. Costs for cheap
travel, hotel accomodation and meals can be covered by the NorFA network for up
to approximately 20 students.</p>
<p>Registration will open soon. The <strong>registration deadline</strong> will
be <strong>May 23, 2005</strong>.</p>
<p>If you are interested in this NorFA course, please send a
<strong>notification of interest</strong> to Jörg Gumbel
(gumbel@<i></i>misu.su.se). You will be informed by e-mail about
further details once the registration is opened.</p>
<p>If you have <strong>further questions</strong>, contact Jörg Gumbel
(gumbel@<i></i>misu.su.se) or Markus Rapp
(markusr@<i></i>misu.su.se). Updated information will soon be
available on this website (<a href="http://www.misu.su.se/norfa-maa.html"
target="_top">http://www.misu.su.se/norfa-maa.html</a>).</p>
<p class="address">
Responsible for this page:
Jörg Gumbel (gumbel@<i></i>misu.su.se).<br />
</p>
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