Submicron NE Atlantic marine aerosol chemical composition and abundance: Seasonal trends and air mass categorization

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
• Main Authors: Ovadnevaite, Jurgita, Ceburnis, Darius, Leinert, Stephan, Dall'Osto, Manuel, Canagaratna, Manjula, O'Doherty, S., Berresheim, Harald, O'Dowd, Colin D.
• Other Authors: European Commission, Department of Energy and Climate Change (UK), Science Foundation Ireland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: American Geophysical Union 2014
• Subjects: Arctic; Mace; Climate change
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/160413; https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JD021330; https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000780; https://doi.org/10.13039/100008428; https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001602

14 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, supporting information https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JD021330 Three years of continuous Aerosol Mass Spectrometry measurements at the Mace Head Global Atmosphere Watch research station revealed seasonal patterns in the chemical composition of submicron NE Atlantic marine aerosol as well as distinct chemical signatures associated with marine air masses of different origin (i.e., polar, Arctic, or tropical). Concentrations of secondary inorganic aerosol species and both primary and secondary organic compounds were closely related to oceanic biological activity and ranged from low median mass concentrations during winter to high median values during summer as follows: 0.025–0.9 μgm for nonsea-salt sulfate (nss-sulfate), 0.025–0.4 μgm for organic matter, 0–0.09 μgm for methanesulfonic acid (MSA). Sea-salt concentrations illustrated an opposite pattern with the highest median value being observed during winter (0.74 μgm) and lowest during summer (0.08 μgm). Maritime polar air masses typically featured the highest concentrations of sea salt and marine organics, particularly enhanced under primary organic plumes during periods of high biological activity. MSA and nss-sulfate were more prominent in tropical air masses. The oxidation of organic matter increased with increasing ozone concentration and wintertime (low biological activity) organic matter displayed a different fragmentation pattern from that of summertime organic compounds This work was supported by the Science Foundation Ireland (grant 08/RFP/GEO1233), HEA-PRTLI4 Environment and Climate: Impact and Responses programme, European Commission IP EUCAARI, EPA-Ireland, European Space Agency (Support To Science Element: Oceanflux Sea Spray Aerosol), EC ACTRIS Research Infrastructure Action under the Seventh Framework Programme. The ozone measurements at Mace Head are supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC; award GA0201) Peer Reviewed