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Denmark's Third National Communication on Climate Change
Research and observations within climate in the broad sense of the word take place at a
number of institutes and organisations and cover a wide range of disciplines from natural
science to evaluation of instruments and sociological aspects.
Denmark's Meteorological Institute (DMI) carries out observations of climate parameters
(atmosphere and ocean) under the World Metrological Organisation's (WMO) programmes and
sub-programmes:World Weather Watch Programme (WWW), Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), Global
Observing System (GOS), Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and Global Ocean Observing
System (GOOS).
Together with climate research, climate observations have been one of the DMI's main
tasks for more than 125 years, with measurement, theory, and modelling. The establishment
of the Danish Climate Center at the DMI in 1998 strengthened the area, and raised its
public profile in national and international cooperation.
Danish research competence concerning the physical expressions of past climate changes
is to be found particularly at the Geological Survey of Greenland and Denmark (GEUS), the
University of Copenhagen (KU) and Århus University. GEUS also has competencies in
glaciological studies of the Greenland ice cap and the ice cap's interaction with climate
change and in the effect of climate change on the water cycle in nature. The Geophysical
Department and the Geological Institute at KU and the Geological Institute at Århus
University have very great expertise in palaeoclimate data, and the climate group at KU is
known worldwide for its ice core drilling and analyses.
Besides research on the climate system, the Institute's climate-related research
includes research concerning the driving forces for emissions of greenhouse gases and
their impact on the environment, the state of the physical, chemical and biological
environment, effects of climate change and society's possibilities for response and
regulation. Denmark's National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), the Danish
Forestry and Landscape Research Institute (FSL), the Danish Institute of Agricultural
Sciences and Risø National Laboratory are all involved in these climate-related fields of
research. In addition, several of Denmark's universities work on different aspects of
climate research.
The DMI has published an overview, parts of which describe current Danish research on
climate changes1.
It is on the basis of research competencies in the above-mentioned areas that Denmark
also participates actively in IPCC's work. For example, Danish authors have been involved
in IPCC's evaluation reports.
The Copenhagen Global Change Initiative (COGCI) is a recently established and
formalised cooperation in the form of a research network and a PhD school between three
Danish institutions (GEUS, DMI, and NERI) and the University of Copenhagen. The COGCI
covers all relevant scientific and interdisciplinary disciplines within global, regional,
and local environmental impacts and climate problems.
Danish climate research contributes to a wide range of international projects under the
World Climate Research Programme, such as the Arctic Climate System Study (ACSYS), Climate
Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR), the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment
(GEWEX), Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate (SPARC) and the World Ocean
Circulation Experiment (WOCE).
Climate-related research in Denmark is characterised by having grown up within an
already existing framework as a natural development of institutions' activities. Denmark
has not previously had a general national research programme for climate changes and
global changes. However, as follow-up on Climate 2012, a committee was appointed to
look at the possibilities for improving coordination of Danish research work on climate.
This committee completed its work in December 2002. The work consisted primarily in
mapping Danish climate research2
and making recommendations on that basis.
Mapping was largely based on a questionnaire-based survey in which all known research
centres with climate or climate-related research were contacted. Besides the narrowly
focused scientific climate research, the survey has provided information on a broad
section of climate-related research in Denmark.
The mapping exercise showed that there is great diversity in relatively extensive
climate-relevant research. The research is primarily concentrated on basic knowledge,
consequences of climate change and mitigation of manmade climate change, whereas there has
been very little research in adaptation to climate change.
Table 8.1
Resources used in Danish climate research 1998-2001
Look here!
The research is funded by the institutions' basic grants, programme grants, and the EU
Commission's framework programmes for research and technological development, and by the
Danish research councils.
In the period 1998 to 2001 Danish climate research increased steadily, from 172
man-years in 1998 to 189 man-years in 2001. The budget increased correspondingly from DKK
94 million in 1998 to DKK 114 million in 2001, with foreign funding accounting for just
under 30%.
Besides the resources shown in table 8.1, a number of players are working with
activities related to climate research, including activities under the Danish Energy
Research Programme, the Nordic Energy Research Programme, PSO funds and Risø National
Laboratory's Wind Energy Department, see section 8.2.6. In 2001 these spent DKK 379 mill.
on activities indirectly or partially related to activities concerning mitigation of
man-made climate changes.
On the basis of the mapping exercise, the committee recommended a general, combined
evaluation to determine which areas within climate research should receive larger grants
from the government research councils or from other public support schemes. In addition,
the committee presented the following proposals for special action areas to strengthen the
entire Danish research in the area:
 | Climate research focused on the North Atlantic region |
 | Adaptation and vulnerability in relation to nature and environment |
 | Emissions in the agricultural sector with a view to reducing greenhouse gas emissions |
 | Analysis of extreme events in relation to the greenhouse effect |
 | Development of climate models focused on feedback processes |
 | Long-term stabilisation of atmospheric greenhouse concentrations and targets for
greenhouse gas emissions |
 | The effect of climate change on renewable energy |
Lastly, the committee's research representatives proposed that more attention be paid
in future to interdisciplinary cooperation, building up national and international
networks, and disseminating the results, and that climate research be given a clearer
place in the government's research policy.
The government will consider the possibilities for following the committee's
recommendations.
Danish climate-related research is described in detail in the following sections, while
a number of ongoing research projects are listed in Appendix D.
At the DMI work is going on within atmospheric and coupled atmospheric oceanic
processes, which are important in connection with global climate change. These process
studies, which are going on in several international projects, include natural atmospheric
oceanic interplay on time scales from years to decades and the main processes of
importance for deep water formation in the North Atlantic.
Through assimilation of atmospheric reanalyses in atmospheric models, several studies
are being carried out of atmospheric processes that are important partly for developing
improved atmospheric models and partly for detecting changes in the external climate
impacts. In addition, trends and variations in the latest tropospheric temperature
observations from satellites (primarily MSU data) and radio soundings are being analysed
and compared.
At the DMI work is going on to improve models for describing the thinning of the
stratospheric ozone layer. This area is important, not only in relation to the Vienna
Convention concerning protection of the stratosphere's ozone layer, but also in a climate
context, because there is interaction with the greenhouse effect.
The DMI has participated in all major European-American Arctic ozone campaigns in the
1990s, such as EASOE, SESAME,THESEO, and THESEO-2000/SOLVE. The research is based on
analyses of a broad range of available observations compared with analyses of the
meteorological conditions in the stratosphere. It includes analyses of the dispersal of
ozone-depleted air from the Polar regions to intermediate latitudes, experimental and
theoretical model work concerning the formation of polar-stratospheric clouds, and
modelling of the propagation of localised mountain waves. The work, which is receiving
support from the EU Commission's framework research programmes, is aimed at better
understanding and modelling of the processes that lead to chemical depletion of the ozone
layer.
The Geophysical Department under the Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and
Geophysics at the University of Copenhagen is working mainly on global and general
problems, such as the natural variability of the climate in all time scales and the role
of basic physical/chemical processes in the climate system. Examples of projects are the
international ice core projects, the aim of which is to analyse ice cores through
Greenland's ice cap in order to obtain a climate series that covers as long a period of
time as possible and to obtain information about the end of the last ice age 11,500 years
ago, and about the last warm period 130,000 years ago.
At Odense University research is going on within the areas of the climate system's
stability, the role of the ocean in the climate system and the chemical and biological
development of the atmosphere and the ocean. The newly established Center for Planet
Research undertakes climate research in a more general sense - for example, it studies ice
deposits not only on earth but also in the solar system.
GEUS works with the physical expressions of past climate changes, including ecosystems'
response, temperature variations, changes in precipitation and rises in water level.
Another research topic is past variations in the circulation of the North Atlantic sea
currents and their importance for climate changes. GEUS also works with mass balance
studies of Greenland's ice cap, including its interaction with climate change and its
effect on changes in water level.
With substantial support from the European Commission, the DMI/Denmark's Climate Center
are working closely together with research institutions in Europe on analyses of the
climatic consequences of increased greenhouse effect, depletion of the stratospheric ozone
layer and variations in solar activity. The main emphasis is on Denmark and the European
region, but global research is also being carried out. The work includes both developing
models and using the models for scenario calculations of the climate of the future.
The models include:
 | Relatively simple empirical models for describing local climate change and variations
(downscaling) and for use in seasonal forecasting. |
 | A regional dynamic atmosphereclimate model for calculating regional/ local climate
change and variations. The main focus is on Denmark, Europe, and Greenland. |
 | Finely meshed global dynamic atmospheric climate models for calculating global/regional
climate change and variations. |
 | Global dynamic coupled atmosphere ocean-sea ice models, which are used for calculating
climate climate change (primarily as a consequence of increased greenhouse effect) and
internal variations in the climate on a 5-100 year time scale. |
In 2000 both global and regional scenario calculations were carried out3 based on IPCC's so-called SRES
emission scenarios - more specifically, scenarios A2 and B2, and the results have been
used in the IPCC's Third Assessment Report. For Denmark it is particularly changes in
(extreme) precipitation, soil moisture and storm activity that are important. For
Greenland it is particularly changes in the simulated snow accumulation on the ice cap
that are of interest.
In the European climate project PRUDENCE, which is being coordinated by the DMI,
researchers are working with several climate models to reduce and quantify the uncertainty
in climate projections and interpretation of the results in relation to European
strategies for mitigating climate change and adapting to it.
The research on ozone as a greenhouse gas includes the influence of ozone on
circulation in the stratosphere, together with radiation forcing and climate effects
caused by changes in the ozone concentration. In the research in this area, use is made of
a global climate model and a more simple radiation convection model.
Research at the Geophysical Department of the University of Copenhagen includes
experimental/field-related, theoretical, and modelling aspects and helps to indicate
methods that can be used for evaluating the climate of the future.
The effects of climate change on nature and ecosystems are covered by research at GEUS,
NERI, the Danish Forest and Landscape Research Center (FSL), the Danish Institute of
Agricultural Sciences and Risø National Laboratory.
FSL carries out research on the direct effect of changed CO2 concentration
on Danish forests through its cooperation with the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural
University.
NERI has research competence concerning toleration limits for air pollution for
particularly sensitive ecosystems on agricultural land.
NERI works with climate change in Greenland, where adverse effects can be expected.
NERI is carrying out a standardised biological/ecological monitoring programme covering a
broad spectrum of processes, fauna, and flora. In connection with this project the
institute is carrying out research projects aimed at increasing knowledge of basic Arctic
ecosystems. In the last five years NERI has built up competence focused on the Arctic
marine ecosystem's function and dynamics and is investigating an Arctic fjord system and,
within that, relationships between production and nutrient conversion.
GEUS has competence concerning long-term variations in ecosystems in Denmark and
Greenland and on the Faroe Islands caused by the climate. The institute is investigating
how the ecosystems react to climate change in lakes and marine environments in Denmark and
Greenland and in forests in Scandinavia. It also registers changes in sea level and their
effect on the water cycle, including the formation of groundwater.
The Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences works with the interaction of climate and
agriculture, including effects of climate and atmospheric CO2 on processes in
the soilplant system. Other aspects being studied include factors affecting greenhouse gas
emissions from agriculture, e.g. energy consumption in the agricultural sector, biomass
for energy purposes, production and handling of manure, biogas, and NH3 volatilization,
and greenhouse gases in relation to feeding strategies, manure handling, and soil tillage.
Risø National Laboratory's work includes a number of sub-projects on effects of
climate change in developing countries, where the centre's activities include both
analyses of vulnerability to climate change and adaptation strategies. The activities
cover the energy, industrial, forestry, agricultural, transport, and waste sectors.
There is not at the present time special competence concerning the effects on humans
and their conditions of life and health, which are particularly relevant in those areas in
the world where dramatic climate effects are expected/seen. An element of NERI's
work programme for 2000 and 2001 was a pilot study of the equality problem between
developing countries and industrial countries.
The Geographical Institute at the University of Copenhagen is doing research on
soil-forming processes in relation to climate and vegetation that are of significance for,
amongst other things, the exchange of greenhouse gases between soil and the atmosphere.
It is important to take account of the economic consequences of the different ways of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
NERI's Center for Analysis of Environment, Economy and Society has general competence
in setting up and evaluating mechanisms for reducing emissions and special competence
within the agricultural, energy and transport sectors. In addition, it possesses general
knowledge of the different aspects of the Kyoto Protocol, including research competence
concerning Joint Implementation.
Risø National Laboratory is involved in various research activities, primarily
relating to policy and mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and relating to
emission scenarios for greenhouse gases. The activities include development and
implementation of international method standards for cost and sustainability analyses of
reduction policies, discussion and testing of baseline approaches and various project and
sector studies for the energy, transport, and agricultural sectors. The research
activities have also included support for the Climate Secretariat and capacity and
training programmes in developing countries. In addition, Risø has research activities
concerning the Kyoto Protocol's flexible mechanisms, Emission Trading (ET), Joint
Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Research at Aarhus University is concentrated on the regulatory aspects of the climate
problem. The Center for Social Science Research on the Environment (CeSam) at Aarhus
University thus has general competence in research in mechanisms - particularly in the
effects of economic instruments (taxes and quotas) and voluntary agreements. In addition,
the centre has thorough knowledge of environment and energy policy, including climate
policy in the industrialised countries.
The University of Southern Denmark in Odense carries out research in climatic,
ecological and anthropogenic impacts on marine environments, particularly the North Sea
and the Baltic Sea in the period 1500-2000.
At the University of Copenhagen the main focus of climate research is the scientific
aspects, but research is also being conducted in the climate field in an economic context,
at the Economic Institute, for example.
At Roskilde University Center, research is going on concerning scenario building within
climatestabilising policies, together with life cycle analyses as a tool in economic
evaluation of climate-stabilising strategies.
At the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the energy/environment group and the
group for urban ecology base their research on sustainable energy development and
sustainable urban change, with energy savings and renewable energy as central parameters.
The Energy Research Programme (EFP) has hitherto supported a large number of research
and development activities in the energy field. The activities have ranged all the way
from social science research on the interaction between the energy sector and the rest of
society to research in such advanced energy technologies as super conductors and fuel
cells. In 2002 funding for the programme was reduced from the previous annual sum of
between DKK 200 mill. and DKK 250 mill., and at the same time, the action areas were
narrowed. However, the energy research effort will increase again from 2003, mainly within
renewable energy, with a pool administered under the Ministry of Science,Technology and
Innovation. The EFP contributes to Danish energy research with a long-term perspective,
and industry is also involved. Statistics on research projects show that private
companies, together with energy and research institutions, contribute almost 50% of the
financial support for the research projects.
NERI concerns itself with the main forces behind greenhouse gas emissions from the
energy sector, the agricultural sector, and the transport sector. FSL has competence in
forestry, afforestation, etc. Together, these two institutions cover the aspects of land
use in the open countryside for agricultural purposes, forestry and nature. In this
connection, both institutions are studying problems related to use of biomass from
agriculture and forestry as an energy source.
NERI makes general inventories of atmospheric emissions from all sectors and
activities, including the greenhouse gases. The institution has special research
competence in inventories from the agricultural sector, the transport sector, and the
energy sector. FSL seeks generally to quantify how forestry and changes in land use in
relation to forests affect the forest ecosystems' carbon sinks and thus the potential
binding of CO2 in biomass and soil.
NERI also has research competence in modelling of the dispersal of greenhouse gases
locally and regionally, with special focus on Denmark, Europe, and Greenland. The
Department for Atmospheric Environment is developing a CO2 model (DEHM) for
dispersal, transport, and surface movements. The model can be used to determine the size
of sources and drains for CO2 in Europe over specific areas and for estimating
whether these areas comply with the Kyoto Protocol.
GEUS is researching impacts from earlier eras on the environment, and the driving
forces for natural climate variations in long-term perspectives.
In cooperation with seven other countries, GEUS is the project manager for the
EU-funded GESTCO project, in which the possibilities for finding geological storage
possibilities near the European power stations and large industrial CO2 point
sources are being studied. Also in this project a technical-economic model is being
developed for planning and price calculations of different combinations of sources of CO2
emissions, transport, and types of geological stores. Several geological formations in
Denmark are known to be suitable for deposition. Publication of the results will be
followed up by public hearings.
GEUS is also participating in the international research project SACS, in which CO2
deposition from the Norwegian Sleipner gas field is being further developed. GEUS is
studying the geological conditions for the store, including the spread of the sand
formation, the tightness of the clay seal and the chemical effects of storing CO2
in the form of carbonic acid where the acidity is very low.
Under the Danish Electricity Supply Act, the system operator is responsible for
ensuring the research and development projects that are needed for use of environmentally
sound electricity production technologies. In 2000 and 2001 a sum of around DKK 100 mill.
per year was used for this purpose, including research and development within wind power,
biomass and waste, other renewable energy, CHP and use of gas and system fitting.
Risø National Laboratory is carrying out research projects on the driving forces,
emissions and possibilities for reduction, particularly in the developing countries.
Research at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences focuses on the agricultural
sector's possibilities for adapting to climate change by changing the cultivation system,
including changes in fertilisation and the use of pesticides and adapting soil tillage
methods. The aim is to develop adaptation options that also reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from the sector.
Since its establishment in 1872 the DMI has monitored the main climate parameters. In
the climate monitoring programme classic methods of measurement are used and new,
satellite-based methods of observation are being developed.
The DMI operates around 200 automatic measuring stations in the Kingdom (Denmark,
Greenland and the Faroe Islands) with a broad measuring programme ranging from automatic
water-level or precipitation stations that measure only a single parameter to stations
with a full measuring programme, including automatic cloud-height detectors and
weather-type detectors. Since 2001 a separate network for climate observations has not
been operated because of technological convergence between the weather networks and the
climate networks and a need to rationalise the measuring network.
Table 8.2
Average data accessibility in 2000
Type |
2000 |
Automatic weather stations, incl. Greenland and the
Faroe Islands |
96% |
Satellite reception |
98% |
Weather radar |
98% |
Radio sounding, Denmark/Faroe Islands |
99% |
Radio sounding, Greenland |
96% |
Storm flood stations |
99% |
The manual measuring network is now being replaced by automatic measuring stations at the
fastest possible rate, the aim being to eliminate human sources of error, to realise any
rationalisation potential and to enable a considerably higher observation frequency.
Observations were previously taken every three hours, but, today, observations are
required at 10-minute intervals from the new stations, which cannot be done manually.
The purpose is to achieve convergence between the different types of stations so that
the number of station types and spare parts can be reduced as much as possible without
loss of quality.
To collect precipitation data the DMI also operates a network of 500 manual
precipitation stations, which are mainly used to map the precipitation climatology. 100
stations report daily via an automatic telephone service called "Tast-Selv", and
400 monthly by postcard. Besides being used in national programmes, the observations are
part of Denmark's international contribution in the form of observation components from
Danish territory to the worldwide meteorological observation network WWW (World Weather
Watch), GCOS (Global Climate Observing System), and other international programmes for
mapping weather and climate.
Table 8.3.
The network of surface observation stations
Type |
DMI |
Cooperation
partners |
|
Denmark |
Green- land |
Faroe Islands |
Denmark |
Green- land |
Faroe Islands |
Manual or semi-manual weather stations |
6 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
Automatic weather stations |
50 |
25 |
4 |
15 |
11 |
1 |
Manual precipitation stations |
489 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
17 |
Automatic precipitation intensity
stations |
4 |
|
|
70 |
|
|
Sun stations |
33 |
6 |
2 |
|
|
|
Automatic water level stations |
15 |
1 |
1 |
60 |
|
|
As will be seen from table 8.2, the Danish observation network is characterised
particularly by high average data accessibility.
The meteorological observations are stored in the DMI's database, and observations from
many Danish stations are available in electronic form right back to 1872, water level
measures from 1890 and measurements of sea surface temperature from 1931. In 2001 the
number of daily observations was 75,000, and the total number of observations in the
database is around 245,000,000.
The meteorological observation systems that are of most interest in a climate context
are:
 | the surface observation system |
 | the radio sounding network |
 | the weather radar network |
 | the ice observation service. |
Each of these systems is described in the following, together with the DMI's
stratospheric observations and oceanographic observations.
The surface observation network
For historical and practical reasons, the surface observation network consists of many
different types of station. Except in the case of the manual precipitation and hours of
sun stations, the stations have been gradually automated since the 1970s at an increasing
rate, and by the end of 2000, Denmark had an almost 100% automated network of weather
stations. Table 8.3 shows the station network. DMI is receiving a growing number of
observations from cooperation partners in all parts of the Kingdom, so these are included
in table 8.3.
Besides the observations from the Danish land areas, the DMI has an observation
agreement with about 50 Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese ships, which carry out systematic
observations in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic and the waters around
Denmark. In addition, Denmark is a partner in the EGOS cooperation on collection of
weather observations from drifting weather buoys in the North Atlantic, since the DMI has
strategically well placed satellite reception facilities in Kangerlussuaq (Greenland) and
in Copenhagen. The siting of weather stations in Denmark and Greenland and on the Faroe
Islands, together with precipitation stations in Denmark, is shown in Appendix E (the GCOS
Report).
Radio sounding network
In radio sounding, a small, fully automatic weather station is sent up by balloon. The
balloon can reach a height of about 35 kilometres, and all the way up it sends
observations of temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind velocity via radio to a
receiving station. Radio soundings provide measurement of the atmosphere's vertical
profile for use in analyses of the condition of the atmosphere. They also enable
measurement of ozone and radioactivity.
The DMI operates radiosounding stations in Copenhagen, in Thorshavn on the Faroe
Islands and in Danmarkshavn, Illoqqortoormiit, Tasiilaq, Narsarsuaq, and Aasiaat in
Greenland. Soundings are also received from two so-called ASAP (Automated Shipboard
Aerological Programme) containers, which are portable radio sounding stations designed for
use on ships. The DMI has had an agreement for many years with a Greenland shipping
company on ship-borne radio soundings in the North Sea and the North Atlantic. The radio
sounding stations and the ASAP units take two daily soundings, although the ASAP units do
not take a sounding if they are near a land radio sounding station, such as the one in
Thorshavn. The total number of soundings per year is in the order of 5,800.
Weather radar network
With radars in Sindal and on Stevns, Rømø and Bornholm, Denmark's network of weather
radars provides almost 100% coverage. It also has an extremely closely meshed network of
land-based precipitation stations.
The weather radar network has supremely high spatial resolution and is therefore able
to provide precipitation climatological information with a very high degree of detail
nationally, regionally, and locally. By calibrating radar data against surfacebased
point-precipitation measurements, the latest research results show that good absolute
accuracy can be achieved. The present radar network has a data frequency of six data sets
per hour and the spatial resolution is 2x2 km2.
Satellite data
Denmark contributes to spacebased observations through membership of the European space
organisation ESA and the European meteorological satellite organisation EUMETSAT, and DMI
has facilities for receiving satellite data in Denmark and Greenland.
In cooperation with EUMETSAT, NERI is managing the development of a so-called satellite
application facility (SAF) for use of GPS data for weather and climate monitoring and is
also participating in the development of SAFs for oceanography and sea ice, together with
ozone and UV radiation.
The DMI is responsible for systematic monitoring of the ice conditions in the waters
around Greenland. Observations of the ice conditions have been collected for about 125
years, and there is a very large quantity of data in graphic form in the way of monthly
surveys, ice maps, etc. Since 1956 the waters south of Kap Farvel, in particular, have
been intensively monitored with a view to making shipping in the area safer. Ice maps are
prepared several times a week with detailed information on relevant ice conditions. All
new ice maps are in vector-graphic form. Since 2000 weekly maps have been prepared showing
the ice conditions all the way round Greenland. The maps are based on satellite data and
are essentially an automatically produced product that is primarily intended as a basis
for analyses of climatic conditions for Greenland and the surrounding waters.
The DMI monitors the stratospheric ozone layer, taking daily earthbased measurements of
the thickness of the ozone layer from Copenhagen and Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord)
with Brewer spectrometers, together with daily measurements from Pituffik (Thule Air Base)
in the spring and autumn months with a SAOZ spectrometer. The DMI also takes weekly
measurements of the vertical ozone profile by means of balloon-borne soundings from
Illoqqortoormiit. The measurements are reported to the databases under Network for the
Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC) and World Ozone and UV-radiation Data Center
under the WMO programme Global Atmosphere Watch. Ozone soundings are also carried out on a
campaign basis from Pituffik and Illoqqortoormiut in the winter and spring months, often
as an element of major international campaigns. Balloon-borne experiments are also going
on for studies of polarstratospheric clouds from Greenland and Scandinavia. Data from the
research campaigns are reported to the Pan-European data centre at NILU in Norway.
The DMI's stratospheric observatories in Pituffik and Kangerlussuaq are primary and
secondary Arctic stations, respectively, in Network for the Detection of Stratospheric
Change, a worldwide network of measuring stations equipped with standardised
instrumentation of verified high quality for monitoring the condition of the stratosphere
and the processes that lead to chemical depletion of the ozone layer. Besides ozone and
NO2 observations, the DMI in Pituffik takes measurements of the level of UV-B radiation.
Besides the DMI's instrumentation, the NDCS stations include lidars for measuring
stratospheric aerosol and cloud particles (Italy and USA) and an infrared spectrometer
(USA) for measuring a wide range of stratospheric trace substances.
The DMI cooperates with the Pan European meteorological forecasting centre in the UK,
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, on building up and using socalled
global reanalyses, which are a fundamental set of data for understanding climatic
variations and changes based on all measurements globally over a 40-year period. In
addition, databases of the climate trend in the past 100 years or so are created and
maintained, cf. 8.3.1.
Together with the Danish Coast Directorate, the DMI monitors the water level in a
number of Danish localities.
In cooperation with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, the DMI carries out
annual oceanographic observations on standard sections of the west coast of Greenland for
the purpose of monitoring climate changes in the Greenland marine environment with a view
to use in fishery evaluations.
The DMI also participates in special measuring campaigns in, for example, the North
Atlantic. For instance, in 1999, the DMI took over the management of the research vessel
DANA's expedition in the Greenland Sea, the purpose of which was to investigate the
importance of this sea for global ocean circulation and its influence on the global
climate.
8.3.6 Terrestrial
observations related to climate changes
Monitoring of snow cover, sea ice and surface radiation is reported in sections
8.3.1 and 8.3.2. Denmark does not carry out further terrestrial observations that can be
related to climate change, but Denmark's climate related research (cf. 8.2) includes
monitoring and studying the effect of terrestrial conditions.
8.3.7
Development assistance for establishment and maintenance of observation and monitoring
systems
Since September 1997, the DMI has participated in a development project together with
the Ghanaian meteorological institute (Meteorological Services Department - MSD). The
purpose of the project includes reestablishing a network of meteorological stations in the
country, thereby ensuring collection of data. At the same time, work is going on to
improve communication and use of the collected data. According to plan, the project will
run until the end of 2003. At the end of the project, MSD is intended to have an efficient
network of around 300 observation stations registering the usual meteorological
parameters.
The DMI is also participating in the project "Use of climatic seasonal forecasts
to improve cultivation strategies for crops in West Africa". The purpose of this
project is to examine the possibilities for adapting cultivation practice for a selected
agricultural crop (peanuts) in Ghana, using the best available seasonal forecasts for the
climate. The project is funded by the Council for Developing Country Research (RUF).
Finally, the DMI is participating in a knowledge-building initiative within use of
regional climate scenarios in developing countries.
1 |
Climate Change Research - Danish Contributions, Jørgensen et
al., 2001.
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|
2 |
Mapping of Danish climate research and proposals for
strengthening action areas. Prepared for the Working Group for a Danish Climate Research
Programme, ECON Center for Economic Analysis, December 2002.
[Back]
|
3 |
The climate of the 21st century: Transient simulations with a
coupled atmosphere ocean general circulation model, Stendel et al. 2000.
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