| Summary: | The subject of this PhD thesis concerns the processes of aerosols and mercury in the High Arctic. These two atmospheric constituents have important implications for climate and human/ecosystem health, respectively. Aerosols scatter and absorb sunlight but also serve as the building blocks of water droplets that form clouds, and both mechanisms affect the radiative balance and thus the climate. Mercury is a pollutant of global concern and is a potent neurotoxin. While extensive work has illuminated many of the processes that lead to the emission/formation, transformation, and removal of aerosols globally, there is still a scarcity of knowledge regarding these processes and the fate of aerosols in the High Arctic. This is due to the logistical challenges of performing long–term measurements in the harsh conditions of the Arctic. Mercury has been the subject of intensive research and the target of several abatement strategies, although a complete understanding of the nature of mercury, including the exact chemical identity of oxidized mercury, is markedly lacking. Resolving the processes of aerosols in the Arctic can help predict the effects of climate change, as aerosols represent one of the largest sources of uncertainty in determining the effects of anthropogenic influence on the climate. Determination of the processes of mercury in the Arctic can provide a more comprehensive understanding of Arctic atmospheric chemistry and how this neurotoxin affects human and ecosystem health in high latitudes. This thesis details the research that I, in collaboration with others, have undertaken during my PhD studies to address the knowledge gaps concerning aerosols and mercury in the High Arctic. We have investigated the sources of volatile organic compounds. We found that four sources adequately described the variation of volatile organic compounds including Arctic Haze, Biomass Burning, Marine Cryosphere, and Background. These results have helped us to understand how anthropogenic, natural, and biogenic sources influence ...
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