Changes in atmospheric oxidants over Arctic Ocean atmosphere: evidence of oxygen isotope anomaly in nitrate aerosols

Abstract Oxygen isotope anomaly of nitrate aerosol (∆17O-NO3 −) contributes to understanding the atmospheric nitrogen chemistry in the polar oceans. Here, ∆17O-NO3 − of the aerosol samples was analyzed based on a cruise from East Asia to the Arctic Ocean to explore the nitrate formation mechanisms....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Main Authors: Yanlin Zhang, Zhuyu Zhao, Fang Cao, Wenhuai Song, Yuchi Lin, Meiyi Fan, Haoran Yu, Hanyu Li, Yihang Hong, Meng Gao
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023
Subjects:
Environmental sciences
GE1-350
Meteorology. Climatology
QC851-999
Arctic
Arctic Ocean
Sea ice
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00447-7
https://doaj.org/article/0d7ac105309646e4a5773a6b6b37ec45
Description
Summary:Abstract Oxygen isotope anomaly of nitrate aerosol (∆17O-NO3 −) contributes to understanding the atmospheric nitrogen chemistry in the polar oceans. Here, ∆17O-NO3 − of the aerosol samples was analyzed based on a cruise from East Asia to the Arctic Ocean to explore the nitrate formation mechanisms. ∆17O-NO3 − decreased with the increase of latitude, especially when after entering the Arctic Circle. ∆17O-NO3 − (e.g., 11.5‰–21.2‰) was extremely low while crossing the sea ice-covered Arctic Ocean. This is most likely influenced by the combined enhancement of hydroxyl (OH) and peroxy (HO2 + RO2) radicals derived by sea ice under permanent sunlight period. In addition, the obvious increase in the ∆17O-NO3 − of return trip with shortened daytime indicated the advantage of nocturnal pathways (NO3 related) with the higher ∆17O endmembers. The mutation of ∆17O-NO3 − can reflect the change of NOx conversion pathways to nitrate, and it can be more sensitive to the change of radical chemistry related to atmospheric oxidation.

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