International multi-instruments ground-based networks: Recent developments within the network for the detection of Atmospheric Composition Changes

Abstract

The necessity for a careful monitoring of the endangered ozone layer was considered to be of prime importance after the discovery of the Antarctic hole in the early 1980s. To that aim, a ground-based global network was established in 1991 in order to monitor not just the ozone but also the chemical and physical parameters that influence the ozone budget. The Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Changes (NDSC) relied on the worldwide measurement stations equippedwith multiple instruments for the parallel monitoring of a variety of atmospheric parameters involved in the ozone depletion issue. In recent years, new developments in the measurement techniques broadened the scope of the network to the monitoring of atmospheric composition in the free and upper troposphere. The name of the network was changed to Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Changes (NDACC) in order to reflect these new priorities. At present, the NDACC includes more than 70 research stations throughout the world, equipped with active and passive remote sensing instruments to monitor the atmospheric composition and its link to climate change. This chapter provides an overview of the network implementation and operation, with particular emphasis on data quality issues. It includes examples of recent results on the long-term evolution of atmospheric parameters relevant to ozone depletion and describes the new development in the network-observing capabilities. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.