Secondary Aerosol Formation in an Arctic Oil Field (Campaign Report)

• Main Authors: Pratt, Kerri A., Lambe, Andrew T., Kulju, Kathryn, Perkins, Nicole, Jeong, Daun, Lerner, Brian M., Krechmer, Jordan E., Claflin, Megan S., Maljuf, Francesca, Cross, Eben S.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Arctic; north slope; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1787984; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1787984; https://doi.org/10.2172/1787984

Atmospheric aerosols contribute significantly to arctic warming, yet significant differences in aerosol concentration levels and seasonal cycles often exist between models and observations. Recent studies of cloud properties across the North Slope of Alaska show the significant, regional influence of oil field emissions. Development across the Arctic motivates the need to characterize these oilfield emissions to further predict their roles in changing future arctic climate. Our previous August-September 2016 Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility field campaign resulted in improved understanding of atmospheric particles emitted within the North Slope of Alaska (NSA) oil fields, as well as the aging of sea spray aerosol. Following Polar Sunrise during arctic spring, chlorine chemistry is active, and we hypothesize that oxidation of oil field hydrocarbons by chlorine atoms (Cl) generates oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) leading to springtime arctic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation.