Project Number: 3625-11630-002-03
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 02, 2005
End Date: Dec 31, 2008

Objective:
Research conducted by both U.S. and Portuguese researchers at the PICO-NARE atmospheric research station (Pico Island, Azores, Portugal), installed in summer 2001, has demonstrated that this location is ideal for observation of the impacts of pollution emissions, large forest fires, and African dust storms upon the global atmosphere. A permanent atmospheric station on Pico Mountain would be extremely valuable to Portugal and to the global atmospheric sciences community. This project will provide continuity between the current, temporary station, and the ultimately permanent station, by supporting U.S. scientists to operate the current station through the summer months. In addition, this project will ensure that the knowledge gained in the current temporary station is fully available as the new, permanent station is developed. The 1995 Agreement on Cooperation and Defense between the US and Portugal, calls for US Government agencies to cooperate in such efforts. DOD has requested and funded USDA/ARS to serve as the lead civilian agency for this program under the Azores Cooperative Initiatives Program (ACIP).

Approach:
Michigan Technical University (MTU) scientists will provide continuous monitoring of the operation of all MTU, University of the Azores, and University of Colorado instruments (used to measure carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, non-methane hydrocarbons, and black carbon particles) during the months of June and August 2005. They will also maintain and rapidly repair instruments as needed to obtain near-continuous measurements. The University of Colorado will provide this monitoring during the month of July.