1. IAMAS-RELATED RESEARCH IN CANADA
Canada has a long history of carrying out research on topics associated
with IAMAS. In this brief report, the research that has conducted across
Canada within the scope of IAMAS is summarized and additional comments
on the overall funding situation are also made.
2. RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND PERSONNEL
Research in Canada is concentrated within the Atmospheric Environment
Service (AES) of Environment Canada and within the university community.
AES research is directed towards improvements in the predictive capability for weather, climate and air quality. Some 100 PhD level scientists work within AES on such issues, although there have been a number of retirements and early departures over the last few years.
A great deal of research is carried out within several universities across the country. This includes the University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, York University, University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Quebec at Montreal, and Dalhousie University. All together, there are about 50 faculty members at Canadian universities carrying out IAMAS-related research on a wide range of topics.
In terms of graduate students, there are approximately 130 MSc
and PhD level students at these universities (Appendix 1). This is similar
to what has been the case for the last few years, although some universities
such as the University of Alberta have an increased number of students.
3. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Over the last 4 years, a substantial amount of research progress has
been achieved. Much of this has been linked with the traditional research
areas such as dynamic meteorology, radar meteorology and cloud physics,
but climate and air quality studies have probably increased the most over
the last few years. A considerable amount of the Canadian activities are
in turn associated with larger international efforts, but there is a large,
vibrant research community carrying out individual research projects as
well.
3.1 Research Areas
Much of the research being conducted in Canada is carried out by individual
researchers examining a host of topics. Some of these topics are listed
in more detail in Appendix 2. A few examples include boundary layer processes,
mesoscale meteorology, synoptics, climatology, radar meteorology, remote
sensing, numerical modelling, data assimilation, and mountain meteorology.
Many of these topic areas represent a continuation of the strong fundamental
research being carried out in Canada.
The last few years has nevertheless seen a considerable alteration in the type of research being carried out. For example, there has been a substantial enhancement in the number of university faculty carrying out research on radiational issues, and there is now even an experimental mesoscale forecasting initiative at the University of British Columbia. In addition, an examination of Appendix 2 reveals that considerable research is also being devoted to topics such as biometeorology and forest fires; such topics bridge to at least some degree various disciplines.
Although not exclusively so by any measure, much of the Canadian research is concerned with issues linked to our middle to high latitude geography. Issues such as icing, winter storms and cold air generation are natural focal points for Canadian research as direct contributions to the country as well as our "expected" contributions to international science.
3.2 Collaborative and Large Efforts
Some of the research being carried out in Canada is directly linked
with large, collaborative efforts. In many cases, this also includes a
field experiment phase.
In terms of climate research, a great deal of attention has been paid towards improvements in the Canadian climate model. This is done in part through the Climate Research Network which funds predominantly university researchers to make improvements in this model. Examples of such nodes include the middle atmosphere, climate variability, aerosols, and surface features. In addition, a major climate project, the Mackenzie GEWEX Study (MAGS), is concerned the interacting climate system of the Mackenzie River Basin of northwestern Canada. This involves a large team of surface scientists, hydrologists, and atmospheric scientists who are documenting, understanding, and modelling this regional climate system. Many of the climate activities in turn feed into the ongoing development of Canada's global and regional climate models to allow independent predictions of future climate. Other climate-related major activities include participation within the US-led FIRE/SHEBA effort over the southern Beaufort Sea in 1998, the conduct of NARE over Atlantic Canada in 1995, and the completion of the analysis phase of BOREAS (conducted in 1994).
Weather-related research has also progressed. Considerable attention is being played to severe weather, both during the summer and the winter. Canada has been affected over the last few years with events such as major summer flooding and by a devastating January 1998 ice storm. In response, the Atmospheric Environment Service is greatly increasing its operational Doppler radar network across the country. By early in the next decade, there should be 29 of these facilities.
Specific research efforts concerned with severe weather have also been carried out. For example, this involves field experiments that have been conducted to examine aviation icing as well as the completion of analyses related to high latitude weather systems (through the Beaufort and Arctic Storms Experiment). In terms of summer weather research, considerable attention has been placed on better understanding the role of soil moisture on summer convection (through for example the MERMOS experiment).
A substantial effort has been made in carrying out research that cuts across disciplines. A particular example of this is the work that is linking atmospheric, surface and hydrological models. To address issues such as spring and summer floods, it is crucial that this be done. Focal points for such studies include the major flooding over the Quebec Saguenay Region and the Manitoba Spring Flood.
On an even broader scale, it is also clear that such cross-cutting
research will only increase. In the area of climate for example, the full
understanding of the whole system must await the coming-together of various
physical sciences topics such as the atmosphere, oceans and cryosphere.
As such interactions continue, it is then likely that there will be more
focus on the need for an interacting biosphere and for more applications
in terms of health and society in general.
4. RESEARCH BUDGETS
Funding for research has suffered over the last few years. This in
large part is linked with the government's need to balance its budget as
opposed to a particular targeting of research. Within government, research
budgets have fallen by about 25-35% since about 1995. Many operational
observing sites across the country have been closed. The funding reductions
have also led to retrenchment in several research areas and this certainly
includes reduced research in the Arctic.
Within the university community, much of the research is funded through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). NSERC has also suffered some significant cuts over the last few years, although there has been an increase in its budget as a result of the recent federal budget. However, NSERC in 1998/99 carried out a review of its funding support priorities. Environmental Earth Science was not chosen as an area to receive higher support, in fact it was one of the areas to receive relatively less support in the latest round of reallocation. This is the second time this has happened. The IAMAS university community in Canada cannot afford to take a similar hit the next time which will occur in 2002. The community has to better mobilize itself to make a convincing case that the research is important and of top quality.
On a more positive note, NSERC funding for collaborative research programs has been good. One example of this is GEWEX. Others have been successful in receiving funding through the Strategic Award program of NSERC for targeted research of critical importance to Canada. This program has been particularly useful to university researchers, in using AES funds of the Climate Network, to leverage NSERC funds.
Other sources of funding may also start to play a significant
role. For example, as an outcome of the Kyoto Agreement, a special fund
called the Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) has been established to support
research linked with reducing our uncertainties in predictions of future
climate.
5. OUTLOOK
Crucial scientific problems involving out atmosphere continue to develop
and it is expected that we will address them as best as we can in the future.
Perhaps there is even reason for optimism in terms of budgets since environmental
issues are of increasing concern to the general public.
6. CANADIAN IAMAS ACTIONS
One major action that the Canadian IAMAS community in particular (and
the whole earth sciences community in general) must address in the future
is the erosion of funding for its university researchers. In relative terms,
this community has suffered two successive cuts in relation to researchers
in other areas. A more convincing case must be developed and presented.
7. CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS REPORT
This report was developed with the involvement of Phil Austin of the
University of British Columbia, Han Ru Cho of the University of Toronto,
Ulrike Lohmann of Dalhousie University, Edward Lozowski of University of
Alberta, Charles Lin at McGill University, Marlene Phillips at Environment
Canada, and Enrico Torlaschi at the University of Quebec at Montreal.
Professors PhD Students MSc Students Dalhousie University 4 3 3 McGill University 12 19 12 University of Alberta 7 4 7 University of British Columbia 10 11 11 University of Toronto 6 20 5 UQAM 4 5 17 York University 6 10 6 Total 49 72 61
I: Canadian Universities:
P. Chylek Atmospheric radiation, climate, atmosphere-ocean interaction, cloud and aerosol physics, optics I. Folkins Atmospheric chemistry, biomass burning, stratosphere-troposphere exchange, environmental mercury Q. Fu Atmospheric radiation, cloud/aerosol/climate processes, remote sensing U. Lohmann Climate modelling, cloud physics, aerosol physics, cloud-aerosol-radiation interactions, general circulation of the atmosphere.
P. Ariya Atmospheric chemistry (joint appointment with Chemistry) P. Bartello Turbulence, geophysical fluid dynamics J. Derome Dynamic meteorology, climatology F. Fabry Radio meteorology, precipitation physics J. Gyakum Synoptic and dynamic meteorology H. Leighton Physical meteorology C. Lin Dynamic meteorology, ocean-climate interaction L. Mysak Ocean and climate dynamics D. Struab Physical oceanography T. Warn Large scale dynamics M.K. Yau Cloud physics and dynamics I. Zawadzki Cloud physics and radar meteorology
E. Lozowski Atmospheric refraction, modelling of ice accretion, marine icing G. Reuter Hailstorms, lightning, flooding storms, climatology J. Wilson Micrometeorological flow, windflow, tracers and dispersion S. Shen Climate anomalies, extreme-weather and transmission line outages, climate data gridding, non-linear waves A. Bush Atmosphere-ocean-ice sheet interactions and climate, diseases and ENSO. G. Swaters Atmospheric fluid dynamics, mathematical modelling B. Sutherland Atmospheric fluid dynamics, mathematical modelling, fluid dynamics laboratory
S. Allen Mesoscale dynamics, buoyancy driven flow, flow over topography P. Austin Cloud physics, turbulence, remote sensing T. Black Soil science and biometeorology W. Hsieh Seasonal climate prediction, neural network modeling I. McKendry Observational and numerical mesoscale meteorology, air pollution M. Novak Biometeorology and soil physics, soil and water conservation T. Oke Urban boundary layer meteorology L. Pandolfo Atmospheric general circulation, wave dynamics, global climate modeling R. Stull Mesoscale numerical weather prediction, boundary layer meteorology D. Steyn Boundary layer and mesoscale meteorology, air pollution
J.P. Blanchet Climate modelling, atmospheric physics, radiation, aerosols, cloud physics, human impact on climate R. Laprise Numerical weather prediction, climate modelling, fluid mechanics E. Torlaschi Radar meteorology, weather forecasting P. Zwack Synoptic-dynamic meteorology, weather forecasting, computer-aided learning in meteorology, artificial intelligence
H.R. Cho Mesoscale dynamics, nonlinear dynamics J. Drummond Satellite instrumentation, MOPPIT K. Moore Mesoscale dynamics, ocean dynamics W.R. Peltier Mesoscale dynamics, climate dynamics T. Sheppard Hamiltonian dynamics, nonlinear dynamics K. Strong Satellite instrumentation, stratospheric measurements
I. Dade Satellite instrumentation, stratospheric measurements M. Jenkins Forest fires, atmospheric dynamics G. Klassen Atmospheric dynamics, middle atmosphere J. McConnell Air chemistry, climate G. Sheppard Satellite instrumentation, stratospheric measurements P. Taylor Boundary layer processes, flow over complex terrain
Much of the research within AES is carried out within its 3 roughly equal-sized research branches. Some of the main focal points of each branch are briefly summarized below.
Improvements in Canadian numerical weather prediction model
(GEM)
Data assimilation
Processes involving clouds and precipitation
Radar research and support for operations
Input for prediction of air quality over Canada
Satellite and in-situ instrumentation of air chemistry parameters
Ground-based air quality monitoring
Aerosol research and climate implications
Development of Canadian global and regional climate models
(CCCma)
Climate processes for cold climate systems
Monitoring climate and its variability across Canada