Biogenic Aerosol in the Arctic from Eight Years of MSA Data from Ny Ålesund (Svalbard Islands) and Thule (Greenland)

• Published in: Atmosphere
• Main Authors: Silvia Becagli, Alessandra Amore, Laura Caiazzo, Tatiana Di Iorio, Alcide di Sarra, Luigi Lazzara, Christian Marchese, Daniela Meloni, Giovanna Mori, Giovanni Muscari, Caterina Nuccio, Giandomenico Pace, Mirko Severi, Rita Traversi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019
• Subjects: biogenic aerosol; Arctic; MSA; sea ice extent; marginal ice zone; NAO; Meteorology. Climatology; QC851-999; Greenland; Ny-Ålesund; Svalbard; Ny Ålesund; Phytoplankton; Sea ice; Thule
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10070349; https://doaj.org/article/e5f4756aa8ac40e2b90b37156372db61

In remote marine areas, biogenic productivity and atmospheric particulate are coupled through dimethylsulfide (DMS) emission by phytoplankton. Once in the atmosphere, the gaseous DMS is oxidized to produce H 2 SO 4 and methanesulfonic acid (MSA); both species can affect the formation of cloud condensation nuclei. This study analyses eight years of biogenic aerosol evolution and variability at two Arctic sites: Thule (76.5° N, 68.8° W) and Ny Ålesund (78.9° N, 11.9° E). Sea ice plays a key role in determining the MSA concentration in polar regions. At the beginning of the melting season, in April, up to June, the biogenic aerosol concentration appears inversely correlated with sea ice extent and area, and positively correlated with the extent of the ice-free area in the marginal ice zone (IF-MIZ). The upper ocean stratification induced by sea ice melting might have a role in these correlations, since the springtime formation of this surface layer regulates the accumulation of phytoplankton and nutrients, allowing the DMS to escape from the sea to the atmosphere. The multiyear analysis reveals a progressive decrease in MSA concentration in May at Thule and an increase in July August at Ny Ålesund. Therefore, while the MSA seasonal evolution is mainly related with the sea ice retreat in April, May, and June, the IF-MIZ extent appears as the main factor affecting the longer-term behavior of MSA.