HyCAMP: Hydrologic sensitivity to Cryosphere-Aerosol interaction in Mountain Processes (completed)

In HyCAMP we address the impact of Short Lived Climate Forcers (SLCF) on cryospheric and hydrologic systems in the Himalayas, India, and Norway. The research is done in cooperation with The Department of Science and Technology, India.

About the project

A brief introduction to the project HyCAMP – Hydrologic sensitivity to Cryosphere-Aerosol interaction in Mountain Processes:

The project initiates a research collaboration to address the impact of Short Lived Climate Forcers (SLCF) on cryospheric and hydrologic systems.
A central outcome of HyCAMP is to further our capacity of hydrologic forecasting for water resources management.
The ultimate goal of the research is to provide an improved capacity to model hydrological response in glacial and mountain environments to improve predictive capabilities for hydrology.

Objectives

A goal in this project is to explore the impact on hydrological response and water resources forecasting on the interaction between SLCF aerosols and frozen water storage. In this investigation we will conduct model investigations to address deficiencies in the state of knowledge regarding the hydrologic sensitivity to cryosphere-aerosol interaction over the Himalaya and in Norway.

The following objectives are central to this activity:

Create a strategic partnership between the Indian Institute of Technology and Norwegian Institute for Air Research.
Establish a bilateral expertise on cryosphere-aerosol impact on water Resources.
Identify aerosol source regions impacting Himalayan hydrology and develop a priority Matrix for air pollution mitigation yielding the maximum hydrologic benefit.
Develop a strategy to integrate aerosol forecast prediction into hydrologic modeling.

Outcomes

Black Carbon Emission Inventory for India:

The HyCAMP project recently generate a new dataset and first-of-kind ground up emission inventory of black carbon(BC) for India. The dataset is available through request by contacting John Burkhart . More information may be found in:

Paliwal, U., Sharma, M., and Burkhart, J. F.: Monthly and Spatially Resolved Black Carbon Emission Inventory of India: Uncertainty Analyses, Atmos. Chem. Phys., doi:10.5194/acp-2015-978, 2016.

Hydrologic Response of Aerosol Deposition:

Using the hydrologic model, Shyft, we are implementing a new snow module which incorporates the response of aerosol deposition and allows for aerosol deposition fields to be used as a forcing variable. We have shown that even low concentrations of black carbon found in the arctic have an impact on the hydrologic response of snow covered catchments.

Financing

The research project is funded by The Norwegian Research Council’s MILJØ2015 program, with NFR project number 222195. The project is in cooperation with The Dept of Science and Technology, Government of India through Grant no. INT/NOR/RCN/P-05/2013.

The HyCamp project period is from 2013 to 2017.

Cooperation

Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway
The Department of Science and Technology, India

Publications

Scientific articles and book chapters

Burkhart, John; Matt, Felix Nikolaus; Helset, Sigbjørn; Abdella, Yisak Sultan; Skavhaug, Ola & Silantyeva, Olga (2021). Shyft v4.8: A Framework for Uncertainty Assessment and Distributed Hydrologic Modelling for Operational Hydrology. Geoscientific Model Development. ISSN 1991-959X. 14(2), p. 821–842. doi: 10.5194/gmd-14-821-2021. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Abstract. This paper presents Shyft, a novel hydrologic modelling software for streamflow forecasting targeted for use in hydropower production environments and research. The software enables the rapid development and implementation in operational settings, the capability to perform distributed hydrologic modelling with multiple model and forcing configurations. Multiple models may be built up through the creation of hydrologic algorithms from a library of well known routines or through the creation of new routines, each defined for processes such as: evapotranspiration, snow accumulation and melt, and soil water response. Key to the design of Shyft is an Application Programming Interface (api) that provides access to all components of the framework (including the individual hydrologic routines) via Python, while maintaining high computational performance as the algorithms are implemented in modern C++. The api allows for rapid exploration of different model configurations and selection of an optimal forecast model. Several different methods may be aggregated and composed, allowing direct intercomparison of models and algorithms. In order to provide an enterprise level software, strong focus is given to computational efficiency, code quality, documentation and test coverage. Shyft is released Open Source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 and available at https://gitlab.com/shyft-os, facilitating effective cooperation between core developers, industry, and research institutions.
Bhattarai, Bikas Chandra; Burkhart, John; Tallaksen, Lena M.; Xu, Chong-Yu & Matt, Felix Nikolaus (2020). Evaluation of global forcing datasets for hydropower inflow simulation in Nepal. Hydrology Research. ISSN 1998-9563. 51(2), p. 202–225. doi: 10.2166/nh.2020.079. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Abstract Discharge over the Narayani river catchment of Nepal was simulated using Statkraft's Hydrologic Forecasting Toolbox (Shyft) forced with observations and three global forcing datasets: (i) ERA-Interim (ERA-I), (ii) Water and Global Change (WATCH) Forcing Data ERA-I (WFDEI), and (iii) Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment with the contributing institute Rossy Centre, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (CORDEX-SMHI). Not only does this provide an opportunity to evaluate discharge variability and uncertainty resulting from different forcing data but also it demonstrates the capability and potential of using these global datasets in data-sparse regions. The fidelity of discharge simulation is the greatest when using observations combined with the WFDEI forcing dataset (hybrid datasets). These results demonstrate the successful application of global forcing datasets for regional catchment-scale modeling in remote regions. The results were also promising to provide insight of the interannual variability in discharge. This study showed that while large biases in precipitation can be reduced by applying a precipitation correction factor (p_corr_factor), the best result is obtained using bias-corrected forcing data as input, i.e. the WFDEI outperformed other forcing datasets. Accordingly, the WFDEI forcing dataset holds great potential for improving our understanding of the hydrology of data-sparse Himalayan regions and providing the potential for prediction. The use of CORDEX-SMHI- and ERA-I-derived data requires further validation and bias correction, particularly over the high mountain regions.
Burkhart, John; Kylling, Arve; Schaaf, Crystal B.; Wang, Zhuosen; Bogren, Wiley Steven & Storvold, Rune [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2017). Unmanned aerial system nadir reflectance and MODIS nadir BRDF-adjusted surface reflectances intercompared over Greenland. The Cryosphere. ISSN 1994-0416. 11(4), p. 1575–1589. doi: 10.5194/tc-11-1575-2017. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Albedo is a fundamental parameter in earth sciences, and many analyses utilize the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF)/albedo (MCD43) algorithms. While derivative albedo products have been evaluated over Greenland, we present a novel, direct comparison with nadir surface reflectance collected from an unmanned aerial system (UAS). The UAS was flown from Summit, Greenland, on 210 km transects coincident with the MODIS sensor overpass on board the Aqua and Terra satellites on 5 and 6 August 2010. Clear-sky acquisitions were available from the overpasses within 2 h of the UAS flights. The UAS was equipped with upward- and downward-looking spectrometers (300–920 nm) with a spectral resolution of 10 nm, allowing for direct integration into the MODIS bands 1, 3, and 4. The data provide a unique opportunity to directly compare UAS nadir reflectance with the MODIS nadir BRDF-adjusted surface reflectance (NBAR) products. The data show UAS measurements are slightly higher than the MODIS NBARs for all bands but agree within their stated uncertainties. Differences in variability are observed as expected due to different footprints of the platforms. The UAS data demonstrate potentially large sub-pixel variability of MODIS reflectance products and the potential to explore this variability using the UAS as a platform. It is also found that, even at the low elevations flown typically by a UAS, reflectance measurements may be influenced by haze if present at and/or below the flight altitude of the UAS. This impact could explain some differences between data from the two platforms and should be considered in any use of airborne platforms.
Bogren, Wiley Steven; Burkhart, John & Kylling, Arve (2016). Tilt error in cryospheric surface radiation measurements at high latitudes: a model study. The Cryosphere. ISSN 1994-0416. 10(2), p. 613–622. doi: 10.5194/tc-10-613-2016. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
We have evaluated the magnitude and makeup of error in cryospheric radiation observations due to small sensor misalignment in in situ measurements of solar irradiance. This error is examined through simulation of diffuse and direct irradiance arriving at a detector with a cosine-response fore optic. Emphasis is placed on assessing total error over the solar shortwave spectrum from 250 to 4500 nm, as well as supporting investigation over other relevant shortwave spectral ranges. The total measurement error introduced by sensor tilt is dominated by the direct component. For a typical high-latitude albedo measurement with a solar zenith angle of 60°, a sensor tilted by 1, 3, and 5° can, respectively introduce up to 2.7, 8.1, and 13.5 % error into the measured irradiance and similar errors in the derived albedo. Depending on the daily range of solar azimuth and zenith angles, significant measurement error can persist also in integrated daily irradiance and albedo. Simulations including a cloud layer demonstrate decreasing tilt error with increasing cloud optical depth.
Fibiger, Dorothy L.; Dibb, Jack E.; Chen, Dexian; Thomas, Jennie L.; Burkhart, John & Huey, Lewis Gregory [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). Analysis of nitrate in the snow and atmosphere at Summit, Greenland: Chemistry and transport. Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR): Atmospheres. ISSN 2169-897X. 121(9), p. 5010–5030. doi: 10.1002/2015JD024187. Full text in Research Archive
Hegdahl, Trine Jahr; Tallaksen, Lena M.; Engeland, Kolbjørn; Burkhart, John & Xu, Chong-Yu (2016). Discharge sensitivity to snowmelt parameterization: A case study for Upper Beas basin in Himachal Pradesh, India. Hydrology Research. ISSN 1998-9563. 47(4), p. 683–700. doi: 10.2166/nh.2016.047. Full text in Research Archive
Paliwal, Umed; Sharma, Mukesh & Burkhart, John (2016). Monthly and spatially resolved black carbon emission inventory of India: Uncertainty analysis. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP). ISSN 1680-7316. 16(19), p. 12457–12476. doi: 10.5194/acp-16-12457-2016. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Black carbon (BC) emissions from India for the year 2011 are estimated to be 901.11 ± 151.56 Gg yr−1 based on a new ground-up, GIS-based inventory. The grid-based, spatially resolved emission inventory includes, in addition to conventional sources, emissions from kerosene lamps, forest fires, diesel-powered irrigation pumps and electricity generators at mobile towers. The emissions have been estimated at district level and were spatially distributed onto grids at a resolution of 40 × 40 km2. The uncertainty in emissions has been estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation by considering the variability in activity data and emission factors. Monthly variation of BC emissions has also been estimated to account for the seasonal variability. To the total BC emissions, domestic fuels contributed most significantly (47 %), followed by industry (22 %), transport (17 %), open burning (12 %) and others (2 %). The spatial and seasonal resolution of the inventory will be useful for modeling BC transport in the atmosphere for air quality, global warming and other process-level studies that require greater temporal resolution than traditional inventories.
Kramer, L.J; Helmig, Detlev; Burkhart, John; Stohl, Andreas; Oltmans, S. & Honrath, Richard E. (2015). Seasonal variability of atmospheric nitrogen oxides and non-methane hydrocarbons at the GEOSummit station, Greenland. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP). ISSN 1680-7316. 15(12), p. 6827–6849. doi: 10.5194/acp-15-6827-2015. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Measurements of atmospheric nitrogen oxides NOx (NOx = NO + NO2), peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), NOy, and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) were taken at the Greenland Environmental Observatory at Summit (GEOSummit) station, Greenland (72.34° N, 38.29° W; 3212 m a.s.l.), from July 2008 to July 2010. The data set represents the first year-round concurrent record of these compounds sampled at a high latitude Arctic site. Here, the study focused on the seasonal variability of these important ozone (O3) precursors in the Arctic troposphere and the impact from transported anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions. Our analysis shows that PAN is the dominant NOy species in all seasons at Summit, varying from 42 to 76 %; however, we find that odd NOy species (odd NOy = NOy − PAN − NOx) contribute a large amount to the total NOy speciation. We hypothesize that the source of this odd NOy is most likely alkyl nitrates and nitric acid (HNO3) from transported pollution, and photochemically produced species such as nitrous acid (HONO). FLEXPART retroplume analyses and black carbon (BC) tracers for anthropogenic and biomass burning (BB) emissions were used to identify periods when the site was impacted by polluted air masses. Europe contributed the largest source of anthropogenic emissions during the winter months (November–March) with 56 % of the total anthropogenic BC tracer originating from Europe in 2008–2009 and 69 % in 2009–2010. The polluted plumes resulted in mean enhancements above background levels up to 334, 295, 88, and 1119 pmol mol−1 for NOy, PAN, NOx, and ethane, respectively, over the two winters. Enhancements in O3 precursors during the second winter were typically higher, which may be attributed to the increase in European polluted air masses transported to Summit in 2009–2010 compared to 2008–2009. O3 levels were highly variable within the sampled anthropogenic plumes with mean ΔO3 levels ranging from −6.7 to 7.6 nmol mol−1 during the winter periods. North America was the primary source of biomass burning emissions during the summer; however, only 13 BB events were observed as the number of air masses transported to Summit, with significant BB emissions, was low in general during the measurement period. The BB plumes were typically very aged, with median transport times to the site from the source region of 14 days. The analyses of O3 and precursor levels during the BB events indicate that some of the plumes sampled impacted the atmospheric chemistry at Summit, with enhancements observed in all measured species.
Law, Katharine S.; Stohl, Andreas; Quinn, Patricia K.; Brock, Charles A.; Burkhart, John & Paris, Jean-Daniel [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2014). Arctic air pollution: New insights from POLARCAT-IPY. Bulletin of The American Meteorological Society - (BAMS). ISSN 0003-0007. 95(12), p. 1873–1895. doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00017.1. Full text in Research Archive