Matthew Shupe
Matthew Shupe, a CIRES scientist from Rollinsville, Colorado, will serve as the co-coordinator of MOSAiC, and will participate on legs 1 and 6. Shupe also works in NOAA’s Physical Sciences Division, where his key science focus is atmospheric coupling in the Arctic system, with a specific focus on surface energy budgets, cloud-precipitation-aerosol processes, and their representation in models. Shupe serves as principle investigator of the surface flux project funded by NSF and NOAA; principle investigator of U.S. DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program installation of atmosphere-cloud-precipitation-radiation-aerosol measurements; and principle investigator of a coordination, outreach, and communications project funded by NSF. His tasks include designing, specifying, and building instrument systems, data management, field installation and operations, and communications and outreach. Shupe explores science questions related to:
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The thermodynamic and dynamic drivers of the sea-ice mass budget
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Processes that control the surface energy budget
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The cloud-precipitation-aerosol system, with special focus on mixed-phase cloud processes
Tasks
Principle investigator of surface flux project funded by NSF and NOAA; principle investigator of US DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program installation of atmosphere-cloud-precipitation-radiation-aerosol measurements; principle investigator of a coordination, outreach, and communications project funded by NSF. My task range from designing, specifying, and building instrument systems, to data management, to field installation and operation, to communications and outreach. I will be the ATMOS team lead on legs 1 and 6.
Science Questions
Many science questions related to the thermodynamic and dynamic drivers of the sea-ice mass budget, processes that control the surface energy budget, the cloud-precipitation-aerosol system, with special focus on mixed-phase cloud processes.
What are you most excited about the expedition?
I am excited about the "coupled system", "full annual cycle", and "international" nature of MOSAiC. Few projects have such a diverse set of scientists and science foci all working together to understand interactions and linkages in the delicately balanced Arctic system. Getting the full annual cycle is so important for truly understanding the behavior of the Arctic system and ultimately for representing it in models. Having a broad international consortium is very symbolic of the importance of the work we are doing. Scientists from across the world broadly agree on the dramatic changes that are occurring in the Arctic and the research that is needed to understand, manage, and respond to these changes.
There will be many challenges for MOSAiC. The biggest will be responding to the environmental conditions that are presented to us, and over which we have no control. Where will the ice drift? How much with the ice fracture? How much overall ice melt will be experience? All of these can impact our measurements in important ways.
What do you love most about the Arctic?
Two things: 1) Its delicate balance. Ice stands in the middle as an integrator of system changes, responding to excesses and/or deficits of energy. In this same way, the phase partitioning of the clouds is in a delicate balance that has dramatic implications for the rest of the system. 2) The scenes. The Arctic never ceases to amaze me with fantastic vistas, unique experiences, amazing wildlife scenes, and more.