Size-separated aerosol chemical characterization over Ny-Ålesund during the Arctic summer of 2010

• Published in: Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action
• Main Authors: Sunil M. Sonbawne, M.P. Raju, P.D. Safai, P.C.S. Devara, Suvarna Fadnavis, A.S. Panicker, G. Pandithurai
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2023
• Subjects: Indian arctic station (Himadri); Aerosol size distribution; Size-mode and ionic constituents; Chemical composition; Source contribution; Airmass trajectories; Chemistry; QD1-999; Environmental protection; TD169-171.8; Arctic; Canada; Greenland; Indian; Ny-Ålesund; black carbon; Ny Ålesund
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scca.2023.100016; https://doaj.org/article/49477476f98749dda3fce43029593686

Chemical composition of aerosols is of great concern in the Arctic because of its great influence on climate. In this communication, we report the physico-chemical properties of size-separated aerosol data archived at Gruvebadet lab in Ny-Ålesund (78.55°S, 11.55°E) as a part of the Indian Arctic Mission over the station ''Himadri'' in 2010. The results reveal that the mass-size distribution (MSD) of aerosol composition exhibits tri-modal distribution with coarse-mode (62%), fine-mode (32%) and weak nucleation-mode (6%) indicating dominance of natural sources over the study region. MSD of chemical components showed a significant contribution to coarse-mode particles for Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and Cl−; fine-mode particles for SO42−, NO3−, NH4+ and K+. The marine sources contributed maximum for SO42− (89%) and Mg2+ (44%) in the coarse fraction, and in the fine fraction, 31% to SO42− and 86% to Mg2+. Non-marine sources were major contributors (80 to 95%) in both mode fractions for Ca2+and K+. The estimated aerosol radiative forcing in the atmosphere of ∼3.21 W/m2 could be attributed to the loading of black carbon aerosols (62%) over the site. The backward trajectories show air masses from Canada and Greenland travelling from 6000 m elevation, bringing the pollutants to Ny-Ålesund and lower altitudes; the oceanic region within Arctic circle contributes more.