Impact of North America on the aerosol composition in the North Atlantic free troposphere

• Published in: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
• Main Authors: García Álvarez, María Isabel, Rodríguez González, Sergio, Alastuey, Andrés
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: European Geosciences Union 2017
• Subjects: Aerosols; Free troposphere; Seasonal evolution; Cyclones; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11765/7287

We measured the composition of the aerosols linked to transatlantic transport from North America to Izaña Observatory, Tenerife. The eastward-moving depressions prompt aerosols export. The seasonal shift of the westerlies stream over the aerosol sources prompts seasonality in the aerosol composition. High loads of dust, organics and sulfate occur in spring and elemental carbon occurs in summer. Aerosol population in the westerly winds over the North Atlantic is dominated by dust and organics. This study is part of the project AEROATLAN (CGL2015-66299-P), funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).