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

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 H2SO4 and methanesulfonic acid (MSA); both species can a ect the formation of cloud condensati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmosphere
Main Authors: Becagli, Silvia, Amore, Alessandra, Caiazzo, Laura, Di Iorio, Tatiana, di Sarra, Alcide, Lazzara, Luigi, Marchese, Christian, Meloni, Daniela, Mori, Giovanna, Muscari, Giovanni, Nuccio, Caterina, Pace, Giandomenico, Severi, Mirko, Traversi, Rita
Other Authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, ENEA, Laboratory for Observations and Analyses of Earth and Climate, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimousk, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
biogenic aerosol
Arctic
sea ice extent
MSA
01.01. Atmosphere
Greenland
Ny-Ålesund
Svalbard
Ny Ålesund
Phytoplankton
Sea ice
Thule
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2122/12702
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/10/7/349
https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10070349
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Summary: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 H2SO4 and methanesulfonic acid (MSA); both species can a ect 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 a ecting the longer-term behavior of MSA. MIUR PRIN 2007 and PRIN 2009, PNRA 2010-2012, PNRA 2015-2016, PNRA 2016-2018 Published id 349 5A. Ricerche polari e paleoclima JCR Journal

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