Aerosol source and processes in the Arctic

Arctic earth system is highly sensitive environmental change. Arctic warms up by 2-4 times faster than the rest of the world. Environmental changes in Arctic has a profound impact on the regional and global climate. Aerosol particles play an important role in Arctic climate system. Predicting how Arctic atmosphere will change in a warming world requires a better understanding of the state of aerosols now, as a baseline from which any predictions can be made. Motivated by this, we carried out field observations in the Arctic region during a research cruise and at ground stations. The overall aim is to improve our understanding on the sources and aerosol particles and their impact on the climate and clouds.

This presentation will show preliminary results from the DY151 research cruise (May-June 2022) to the Labrador Sea and the Davis Strait. The main objectives of the cruise include:

• Sources and processes of aerosol particles, cloud condensation nuclei and ice nuclei
• Source and processes of gaseous pollutants
• Formation and growth mechanism of new particles
• Improve modelling of aerosol sources and processes in the Arctic and predict the impact of potential increase in Arctic shipping on the clouds and climate in the future

Operations onboard included the measurement of atmospheric and oceanic parameters, including:

• size distributions of particles from 1 nm to 20 µm;
• gaseous pollutants such as volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, HONO, HCHO, carbon monoxide, and sulphur dioxide;
• molecular clusters and highly oxygenated organic compounds that contribute to the formation and growth of new particles;
• chemical composition of aerosol particles including both organic tracers and inorganic species, and black carbon;
• particle mass concentrations;
• cloud condensation nuclei and ice nuclei concentrations;
• optical observations of atmospheric particles and radiation; and
• surface ocean chlorophyll a concentrations and routinely measured parameters onboard such as salinity.

These comprehensive observations will allow to better understand (1) the emissions, sources, and oxidation of key gaseous pollutants, (2) formation and growth of new particles, (3) contribution of newly formed particles to cloud condensation nuclei, and (4) sources of aerosol particles, cloud condensation nuclei and ice nuclei.