Near-surface particle concentration profiles above the Arctic sea ice

The Arctic region is warming rapidly, and aerosol-cloud-sea-ice interactions are considered to be one of the key features of the Arctic climate system. It is therefore crucial to identify Arctic particle sources and sinks in order to study their impact on cloud formation and properties. Scott and Levin (1972) were the first to describe open leads as potential sources of atmospheric particles and thus a local source of particle emissions in the central Arctic. Held et al. (2011) found that open leads and ice ridges in particular emit high levels of particles. Particle concentrations have also been shown to be altered by the intrusion of warm and moist air masses and can be strongly enhanced in turbulence-dominated cases (You et al., 2022). Despite significant progress in Arctic research in recent years, there is still a lack of information on near-surface particle concentrations over different surface types, especially before and during the ice-melting period.

Here, we present measurements of near-surface particle concentration profiles to help to quantify the vertical aerosol exchange between Arctic sea ice and the atmosphere. In spring 2023, during the research cruise ARTofMELT on board the icebreaker Oden, we successfully carried out vertical particle measurements. From 17 May to 9 June 2023, near-surface particle concentration profiles were measured during 16 individual measurement periods. Due to the early season, measurements could be taken both before and during the melting process.

For the profile measurements, an aersol inlet was automatically moved up and down by a 1.50 m linear actuator. A plate was attached to the lift to hold sensors for the distance, wind and temperature as well as the aerosol inlet. An  box containing the condensation particle counter (CPC 3007, TSI, St. Paul, MN, USA) was connected to the inlet. Total particle number concentrations with a lower cut-off diameter of 10 nm were then determined at six different heights from 6 cm above the surface to 1.30 m. These measurements were carried out on the ice close to an open lead or surrounded by a closed ice surface.

Figure 1 shows an example for two days of fluxes at 79.8 ° N and 1.9° W. Due to the proximity to the open lead, an emission (red) of aerosols predominates, which is partially alternated by a deposition (blue). The flow calculations are based on 26 height profiles measured on 17 May and 24 on 18 May.

We thank our colleagues from Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Stockholm University, Swedish polar research secretariat as well as all expedition participants who provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted the research.

Held, A., Brooks, I.M., Leck, C., and Tjernström, M. (2011) On the potential contribution of open lead particle emissions to the central Arctic aerosol concentration. Atmos.Chem.Phys. 11, 3093-3105.
Scott, W. D. and Z. Levin (1972) Open channels in sea ice as ion sources. Science 177, 425-426.
You, C., Tjernström, M., Devasthale, A. (2022) Warm and moist air intrusions into the winter Arctic: a Lagrangian view on the near-surface energy budgets. Atmos.Chem.Phys. 22, 8037–8057.