| Summary: | 2 pages, figures The oceans are strong and pervasive sources of tiny airborne particles (called aerosols) with important implications for the regulation of atmospheric chemistry, optics, cloudiness and, therefore, climate. The PEGASO project aims to investigate the plankton-derived production of aerosol-forming substances, mainly trace gases, microgels and biological particles (viruses, bacteria). Its sister project BIO-NUC seeks to investigate aerosol formation, ageing and cloud-seeding activity over the oceans. To these aims, the PEGASO cruise on board the RV Hesperides visited, during 6 weeks, the regions of South Georgia Island, South Orkney Islands and Anvers Island in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Peninsula. The cruise departed from Ushuaia on 2 January 2015 and returned to the same port on 11 February 2015. Regions with contrasting plankton abundance and composition were visited and studied with a lagrangian approach, deploying and following drifters. Underway measurements were also conducted along transits between regions. Surface ocean physical, chemical and biological measurements were conducted in parallel to atmospheric measurements of oxidants and aerosol chemistry and physics. Also, simulations of sea spray particle formation by wave breaking were conducted using a seawater bubbling chamber on board. Between 18 and 20 November, the PEGASO post-cruise meeting is held at the ICM, with attendance of the international research groups involved in the cruise, from NUI Galway (Ireland), Univ. Birmingham and PML Plymouth (UK), CNR Bologna (Italy), Univ. Mainz (Germany), FMI Helsinki (Finland) and IQFR-CSIC Madrid. The talk will describe the cruise activities, report the main scientific achievements, and outline plans for the future Peer Reviewed
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