A deeper understanding of the complex pathways associated with atmospheric aerosol sources, sinks, and transformation processes prevail as a major bottleneck in global climate research. Owing to their distinct atmospheric conditions, measurements from polar, marine, high-altitude and remote environments are crucial to reduce the uncertainties hovering around this issue. Despite their importance, aerosol characteristics in these regions are poorly understood due to limited observational data arising due to logistical challenges, harsh environments, and limited accessibility. This session addresses this research gap by focusing on recent expeditions and field campaigns to the Arctic, Antarctica, Himalayas, as well as marine, high-altitude and remote environments.
Topics of interest to the session include, but are not limited to:
• The physical and chemical composition of aerosols, their precursors, and roles in atmospheric processes, including new particle formation.
• The mechanisms driving aerosol generation, including the complex interactions between air-sea and air-snow interfaces, and chemical processes that lead to emissions of trace gases and volatile organic compounds.
• Light absorbing aerosols such as black carbon, brown carbon and mineral dust aerosols.
• Mixing state of atmospheric aerosols.
• Aerosol-cloud interactions and hygroscopicity of aerosols.
• Recent field campaign results that use ground, ship-based, and airborne measurements. This includes cutting-edge measurement techniques, such as UAVs, balloon-borne sensors, real-time automated ground-based systems, and newly established research infrastructures which enable the unique datasets from these regions.
• Use of field data in improving satellite retrievals and models simulating aerosol transport, atmospheric processes, and interactions with clouds and radiation.
• Laboratory experiments of aerosols.
By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, this session aims to advance the understanding of aerosol impacts in these regions, contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts.