Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 

SCOR (Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research) Working Group 167 (Reducing Uncertainty in Soluble aerosol Trace Element Deposition, RUSTED), appointed in October 2022, brings together experts from the atmospheric chemistry, ocean biogeochemistry, and modelling communities. Aiming to reduce uncertainties in soluble aerosol trace element deposition, RUSTED will quantitatively assess different aerosol leaching schemes; formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) for frequently used aerosol leaching schemes; and develop a user-friendly, open-access database of aerosol trace element data which includes advice on the use of the data in Earth system models.

In this special issue, we propose to curate cutting-edge studies which advance our knowledge of the deposition of soluble aerosol trace elements and their impacts on marine ecosystems. We also encourage the submission of manuscripts which address challenges and/or report recent advances in the field of aerosol trace element deposition from researchers outside the working group.

Review process: This inter-journal special issue co-lists papers of different journals. Thereby, each paper was submitted to 1 particular journal and underwent the regular interactive peer-review process of that journal. Depending on the journal, the peer review was handled by regular members of the editorial board and/or by guest editors designated by the journal’s chief/executive editors.

This special issue consists of papers that describe the modelling, observations, and analysis of data related to the ACROSS (Atmospheric Chemistry of the Suburban Forest) field measurement campaign that took place in summer 2022 in the Paris region. It could also include papers describing new instrumentation or new instrumental configurations used during the campaign. Any papers directly related to the ACROSS project are welcome for submittal to this special issue.

Review process: This inter-journal special issue co-lists papers of different journals. Thereby, each paper was submitted to 1 particular journal and underwent the regular interactive peer-review process of that journal. Depending on the journal, the peer review was handled by regular members of the editorial board and/or by guest editors designated by the journal's chief/executive editors.

Occultation techniques for observing the Earth’s atmosphere and climate comprise solar, lunar, stellar, navigation, and satellite-crosslink occultation methods, exploiting the electromagnetic spectrum from optical to radio signals via refraction, absorption, scattering, and reflection. Retrieved atmospheric variables range from bending angle, refractivity, pressure, geopotential height, temperature, and water vapor to greenhouse gases and particulate species such as aerosols and cloud liquid water. Information on ionosphere and space weather is also provided.

Occultation methods share the unique properties of self-calibration; high accuracy and vertical resolution; global coverage; and, if using radio signals, all-weather capability. Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) radio occultation has become particularly successful over the recent decades and provides accurate refraction-based measurements using data from all GNSS systems.

Occultation data are of high utility in numerical weather prediction, atmospheric physics, and climate science. Their application has further broadened in recent years, and new satellite missions and observation methods are on the way.

The OPAC-IROWG 2022 workshop brought together members from the different sub-communities and users of occultation data. The present Atmospheric Measurement Techniques special issue is dedicated to the results of this conference and recent achievements.

An overlapping need exists between the climate research and the radiation protection communities to improve the metrology for atmospheric radon concentration and radon flux measurements. The EMPIR project 19ENV01 traceRadon works toward these goals for the benefit of both large scientific communities by providing the necessary infrastructure for measuring these aforementioned variables. In addition, it will generate data at four selected European sites for validation of radon flux models and inventories and will create the first standard protocol for applying the radon tracer method (RTM). The proposed special issue aims to collect the direct and indirect outcomes of the traceRadon project. It will include papers presenting results of the laboratory and field campaigns carried out within the project. In addition, papers directly related to the project goals will be welcome too.

The Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR-II) is an official activity of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project (IGAC) (https://igacproject.org/activities/TOAR/TOAR-II). The goal of TOAR-II is to build on the success of TOAR-I (2014–2019) and produce an updated assessment of tropospheric ozone’s global distribution and trends from the surface to the tropopause. This effort will include an analysis of the impacts of ozone on human health, crop and ecosystem productivity, and climate. Original tropospheric ozone research conducted by the TOAR-II community may be submitted to one of six Copernicus journals (ACP/AMT/BG/GMD/ESSD/ASCMO), and the accepted papers will be linked through the TOAR-II Community Special Issue.