scholarly journals The role of open lead interactions in atmospheric ozone variability between Arctic coastal and inland sites

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter K. Peterson ◽  
Kerri A. Pratt ◽  
William R. Simpson ◽  
Son V. Nghiem ◽  
Lemuel X. Pérez Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Atmospheric Ozone ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Large Spatial Scale ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Air Masses

Abstract Boundary layer atmospheric ozone depletion events (ODEs) are commonly observed across polar sea ice regions following polar sunrise. During March-April 2005 in Alaska, the coastal site of Barrow and inland site of Atqasuk experienced ODEs (O3< 10 nmol mol-1) concurrently for 31% of the observations, consistent with large spatial scale ozone depletion. However, 7% of the time ODEs were exclusively observed inland at Atqasuk. This phenomenon also occurred during one of nine flights during the BRomine, Ozone, and Mercury EXperiment (BROMEX), when atmospheric vertical profiles at both sites showed near-surface ozone depletion only at Atqasuk on 28 March 2012. Concurrent in-flight BrO measurements made using nadir scanning differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) showed the differences in ozone vertical profiles at these two sites could not be attributed to differences in locally occurring halogen chemistry. During both studies, backward air mass trajectories showed that the Barrow air masses observed had interacted with open sea ice leads, causing increased vertical mixing and recovery of ozone at Barrow and not Atqasuk, where the air masses only interacted with tundra and consolidated sea ice. These observations suggest that, while it is typical for coastal and inland sites to have similar ozone conditions, open leads may cause heterogeneity in the chemical composition of the springtime Arctic boundary layer over coastal and inland areas adjacent to sea ice regions.

scholarly journals Enhanced tropospheric BrO over Antarctic sea ice in mid winter observed by MAX-DOAS on board the research vessel Polarstern

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 3129-3142 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wagner ◽  
O. Ibrahim ◽  
R. Sinreich ◽  
U. Frieß ◽  
R. von Glasow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Vertical Mixing ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Research Vessel ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Back Trajectory ◽  
First Year ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Near Surface

Abstract. We present Multi AXis-Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) observations of tropospheric BrO carried out on board the German research vessel Polarstern during the Antarctic winter 2006. Polarstern entered the area of first year sea ice around Antarctica on 24 June 2006 and stayed within this area until 15 August 2006. For the period when the ship cruised inside the first year sea ice belt, enhanced BrO concentrations were almost continuously observed. Outside the first year sea ice belt, typically low BrO concentrations were found. Based on back trajectory calculations we find a positive correlation between the observed BrO differential slant column densities (ΔSCDs) and the duration for which the air masses had been in contact with the sea ice surface prior to the measurement. While we can not completely rule out that in several cases the highest BrO concentrations might be located close to the ground, our observations indicate that the maximum BrO concentrations might typically exist in a (possibly extended) layer around the upper edge of the boundary layer. Besides the effect of a decreasing pH of sea salt aerosol with altitude and therefore an increase of BrO with height, this finding might be also related to vertical mixing of air from the free troposphere with the boundary layer, probably caused by convection over the warm ocean surface at polynyas and cracks in the ice. Strong vertical gradients of BrO and O3 could also explain why we found enhanced BrO levels almost continuously for the observations within the sea ice. Based on our estimated BrO profiles we derive BrO mixing ratios of several ten ppt, which is slightly higher than many existing observations. Our observations indicate that enhanced BrO concentrations around Antarctica exist about one month earlier than observed by satellite instruments. From detailed radiative transfer simulations we find that MAX-DOAS observations are up to about one order of magnitude more sensitive to near-surface BrO than satellite observations. In contrast to satellite observations the MAX-DOAS sensitivity hardly decreases for large solar zenith angles and is almost independent from the ground albedo. Thus this technique is very well suited for observations in polar regions close to the solar terminator. For large periods of our measurements the solar elevation was very low or even below the horizon. For such conditions, most reactive Br-compounds might exist as Br2 molecules and ozone destruction and the removal of reactive bromine compounds might be substantially reduced.

scholarly journals Cyclone-induced surface ozone and HDO depletion in the Arctic

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 14955-14974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyi Zhao ◽  
Dan Weaver ◽  
Kristof Bognar ◽  
Gloria Manney ◽  
Luis Millán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Deuterium Oxide ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Weddell Sea ◽  
Cloud Layer ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Ice Cloud

Abstract. Ground-based, satellite, and reanalysis datasets were used to identify two similar cyclone-induced surface ozone depletion events at Eureka, Canada (80.1° N, 86.4° W), in March 2007 and April 2011. These two events were coincident with observations of hydrogen deuterium oxide (HDO) depletion, indicating that condensation and sublimation occurred during the transport of the ozone-depleted air masses. Ice clouds (vapour and crystals) and aerosols were detected by lidar and radar when the ozone- and HDO-depleted air masses arrived over Eureka. For the 2007 event, an ice cloud layer was coincident with an aloft ozone depletion layer at 870 m altitude on 2–3 March, indicating this ice cloud layer contained bromine-enriched blowing-snow particles. Over the following 3 days, a shallow surface ozone depletion event (ODE) was observed at Eureka after the precipitation of bromine-enriched particles onto the local snowpack. A chemistry–climate model (UKCA) and a chemical transport model (pTOMCAT) were used to simulate the surface ozone depletion events. Incorporating the latest surface snow salinity data obtained for the Weddell Sea into the models resulted in improved agreement between the modelled and measured BrO concentrations above Eureka. MERRA-2 global reanalysis data and the FLEXPART particle dispersion model were used to study the link between the ozone and HDO depletion. In general, the modelled ozone and BrO showed good agreement with the ground-based observations; however, the modelled BrO and ozone in the near-surface layer are quite sensitive to the snow salinity. HDO depletion observed during these two blowing-snow ODEs was found to be weaker than pure Rayleigh fractionation. This work provides evidence of a blowing-snow sublimation process, which is a key step in producing bromine-enriched sea-salt aerosol.

scholarly journals Analysis of reactive bromine production and ozone depletion in the Arctic boundary layer using 3-D simulations with GEM-AQ: inference from synoptic-scale patterns

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3949-3979 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Toyota ◽  
J. C. McConnell ◽  
A. Lupu ◽  
L. Neary ◽  
C. A. McLinden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Heterogeneous Reactions ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Synoptic Scale ◽  
Arctic Boundary Layer ◽  
Surface Snow

Abstract. Episodes of high bromine levels and surface ozone depletion in the springtime Arctic are simulated by an online air-quality model, GEM-AQ, with gas-phase and heterogeneous reactions of inorganic bromine species and a simple scheme of air-snowpack chemical interactions implemented for this study. Snowpack on sea ice is assumed to be the only source of bromine to the atmosphere and to be capable of converting relatively stable bromine species to photolabile Br2 via air-snowpack interactions. A set of sensitivity model runs are performed for April 2001 at a horizontal resolution of approximately 100 km×100 km in the Arctic, to provide insights into the effects of temperature and the age (first-year, FY, versus multi-year, MY) of sea ice on the release of reactive bromine to the atmosphere. The model simulations capture much of the temporal variations in surface ozone mixing ratios as observed at stations in the high Arctic and the synoptic-scale evolution of areas with enhanced BrO column amount ("BrO clouds") as estimated from satellite observations. The simulated "BrO clouds" are in modestly better agreement with the satellite measurements when the FY sea ice is assumed to be more efficient at releasing reactive bromine to the atmosphere than on the MY sea ice. Surface ozone data from coastal stations used in this study are not sufficient to evaluate unambiguously the difference between the FY sea ice and the MY sea ice as a source of bromine. The results strongly suggest that reactive bromine is released ubiquitously from the snow on the sea ice during the Arctic spring while the timing and location of the bromine release are largely controlled by meteorological factors. It appears that a rapid advection and an enhanced turbulent diffusion associated with strong boundary-layer winds drive transport and dispersion of ozone to the near-surface air over the sea ice, increasing the oxidation rate of bromide (Br−) in the surface snow. Also, if indeed the surface snowpack does supply most of the reactive bromine in the Arctic boundary layer, it appears to be capable of releasing reactive bromine at temperatures as high as −10 °C, particularly on the sea ice in the central and eastern Arctic Ocean. Dynamically-induced BrO column variability in the lowermost stratosphere appears to interfere with the use of satellite BrO column measurements for interpreting BrO variability in the lower troposphere but probably not to the extent of totally obscuring "BrO clouds" that originate from the surface snow/ice source of bromine in the high Arctic. A budget analysis of the simulated air-surface exchange of bromine compounds suggests that a "bromine explosion" occurs in the interstitial air of the snowpack and/or is accelerated by heterogeneous reactions on the surface of wind-blown snow in ambient air, both of which are not represented explicitly in our simple model but could have been approximated by a parameter adjustment for the yield of Br2 from the trigger.

scholarly journals Polar boundary layer bromine explosion and ozone depletion events in the chemistry-climate model EMAC v2.52: Implementation and evaluation of AirSnow algorithm

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Falk ◽  
Björn-Martin Sinnhuber
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Dry Deposition ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Vertical Column ◽  
Model Studies

Abstract. Ozone depletion events (ODE) in the polar boundary layer have been observed frequently during spring-time. Most likely, they are related to events of boundary layer enhancement of bromine. Consequently, increased vertical column densities (VCD) of BrO have been observed from satellites. These so called bromine explosion events have been discussed serving as source of tropospheric BrO at high latitudes. We have implemented a treatment of bromine release and recycling on sea ice and snow covered surfaces in the global chemistry-climate model EMAC (ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry) based on the scheme of Toyota et al. (2011). In this scheme, dry deposition fluxes of HBr, HOBr, and BrNO3 over ice and snow covered surfaces are recycled into Br2 fluxes. In addition, dry deposition of O3, dependent on temperature and sunlight, triggers a Br2 release from surfaces associated with first-year sea ice. Many aspects of observed bromine enhancements and associated episodes of near-complete depletion of boundary layer ozone, both in the Arctic and in the Antarctic, are reproduced by this relatively simple approach. We present first results from our global model studies extending over a full annual cycle, including comparisons with GOME satellite BrO VCD and surface ozone observations.

scholarly journals Polar boundary layer bromine explosion and ozone depletion events in the chemistry–climate model EMAC v2.52: implementation and evaluation of AirSnow algorithm

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1115-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Falk ◽  
Björn-Martin Sinnhuber
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Dry Deposition ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
In Situ Observation ◽  
Vertical Column

Abstract. Ozone depletion events (ODEs) in the polar boundary layer have been observed frequently during springtime. They are related to events of boundary layer enhancement of bromine. Consequently, increased amounts of boundary layer volume mixing ratio (VMR) and vertical column densities (VCDs) of BrO have been observed by in situ observation, ground-based as well as airborne remote sensing, and from satellites. These so-called bromine explosion (BE) events have been discussed serving as a source of tropospheric BrO at high latitudes, which has been underestimated in global models so far. We have implemented a treatment of bromine release and recycling on sea-ice- and snow-covered surfaces in the global chemistry–climate model EMAC (ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry) based on the scheme of Toyota et al. (2011). In this scheme, dry deposition fluxes of HBr, HOBr, and BrNO3 over ice- and snow-covered surfaces are recycled into Br2 fluxes. In addition, dry deposition of O3, dependent on temperature and sunlight, triggers a Br2 release from surfaces associated with first-year sea ice. Many aspects of observed bromine enhancements and associated episodes of near-complete depletion of boundary layer ozone, both in the Arctic and in the Antarctic, are reproduced by this relatively simple approach. We present first results from our global model studies extending over a full annual cycle, including comparisons with Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) satellite BrO VCDs and surface ozone observations.

scholarly journals Pronounced signature of arctic surface ozone depletion events after polar sunrise on Δ<sup>17</sup>O in atmospheric nitrate

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 6255-6297 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Morin ◽  
J. Savarino ◽  
S. Bekki ◽  
S. Gong ◽  
J. W. Bottenheim
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Atmospheric Ozone ◽  
Ozone Level ◽  
Arctic Boundary Layer ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Boundary Layer Ozone

Abstract. We report in this paper the first measurements of the isotopic anomaly of oxygen in Arctic atmospheric inorganic nitrate. Data and samples were collected at Alert, Nunavut, Canada (82°30' N, 62°19' W) in spring 2004. Focusing on the polar sunrise period, characterized by the occurrence of severe boundary layer ozone depletion events (ODEs), our data show a significant correlation between the evolution of atmospheric ozone (O3) mixing ratios and Δ17O in nitrate Δ17O(NO−3)). This relationship can be expressed as: Δ17O(NO−3)/‰=0.15 O3/ (nmol mol−1) + 28.6, with R2=0.70 (n=12), for Δ17O(NO−3) ranging between 29 and 34. To quantitatively interpret this relationship, we derive from mechanisms at play in the arctic boundary layer isotopic mass-balance equations, which depend on the concentrations of reactive species and their isotopic characteristics. Changes in the relative importance of O3, RO2 and BrO in the oxidation of NOx during ODEs, and the large isotopic anomalies that O3 and BrO carry, are the driving force for the high variability in the measured Δ17O(NO−3). BrONO2 hydrolysis is found to be the major source of nitrate in the arctic boundary layer, in agreement with recent modeling studies. In addition, the isotopic fingerprint of the activity of ozone in a relatively stable compound appears somewhat promising in the perspective of using the isotopic composition of nitrate embedded in polar ice-cores as a paleo-indicator of the atmospheric ozone level that may yield an indirect proxy for the oxidative power of past atmospheres.

scholarly journals The CU 2-dimensional MAX-DOAS instrument – Part 1: Retrieval of NO<sub>2</sub> in 3 dimensions and azimuth dependent OVOC ratios

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 11653-11709 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Ortega ◽  
T. Koenig ◽  
R. Sinreich ◽  
D. Thomson ◽  
R. Volkamer
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Elevation Angle ◽  
Tropospheric Chemistry ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
High Time Resolution ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Near Surface

Abstract. We present an innovative instrument telescope, and describe a retrieval method to probe 3-D distributions of atmospheric trace gases that are relevant to air pollution and tropospheric chemistry. The University of Colorado (CU) two dimensional (2-D) Multi-AXis-Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (CU 2D-MAX-DOAS) instrument measures nitrogen dioxide (NO2), formaldehyde (HCHO), glyoxal (CHOCHO), oxygen dimer (O2-O2, or O4) and water vapor (H2O); also nitrous acid (HONO), bromine monoxide (BrO), iodine monoxide (IO) among other gases can in principle be measured. Information about aerosols is derived through coupling with a radiative transfer model (RTM). The 2-D telescope has 3 modes of operation: (mode 1) measures solar scattered photons from any pair of elevation angle (−20° < EA < +90° or zenith; zero is to the horizon) and azimuth angle (−180° < AA < +180°; zero being North), (mode 2) measures any set of AA at constant EA (almucantar scans); and (mode 3) tracks the direct solar beam via a separate view port. Vertical profiles of trace gases are measured, and used to estimate planetary boundary layer height (PBL). Horizontal distributions are then derived using PBL and parameterization of RTM (Sinreich et al., 2013). NO2 is evaluated at different wavelengths (350, 450, and 560 nm), exploiting the fact that the effective path length varies systematically with wavelength. The area probed is constrained by O4 observations at nearby wavelengths, and has an effective radius of 7.5 to 20 km around the instrument location; i.e., up to 1250 km2 can be sampled near-instantaneously, and with high time resolution. The instrument was deployed as part of the Multi Axis DOAS Comparison campaign for Aerosols and Trace gases (MAD-CAT) in Mainz, Germany from 7 June to 6 July 2013. We present first measurements (modes 1 and 2 only) and describe a four-step retrieval to derive (a) boundary layer vertical profiles of NO2 and PBL; (b) near-surface horizontal distributions of NO2; (c) range resolved NO2 horizontal distribution measurements using an "onion peeling" approach; and (d) the ratios HCHO-to-NO2 (RFN), CHOCHO-to-NO2 (RGN), and CHOCHO-to-HCHO (RGF) at 14 pre-set azimuth angles distributed over a 360° view. 2D-MAX-DOAS provides an innovative, regional perspective about trace gases, their spatial and temporal concentration gradients, and maximizes information to compare near-surface observations with atmospheric models and satellites.

scholarly journals Pan-Arctic surface ozone: modelling vs. measurements

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 15937-15967
Author(s):  
Xin Yang ◽  
Anne-M. Blechschmidt ◽  
Kristof Bognar ◽  
Audra McClure-Begley ◽  
Sara Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Sea Spray ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Model Control

Abstract. Within the framework of the International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere (IASOA), we report a modelling-based study on surface ozone across the Arctic. We use surface ozone from six sites – Summit (Greenland), Pallas (Finland), Barrow (USA), Alert (Canada), Tiksi (Russia), and Villum Research Station (VRS) at Station Nord (North Greenland, Danish realm) – and ozone-sonde data from three Canadian sites: Resolute, Eureka, and Alert. Two global chemistry models – a global chemistry transport model (parallelised-Tropospheric Offline Model of Chemistry and Transport, p-TOMCAT) and a global chemistry climate model (United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosol, UKCA) – are used for model data comparisons. Remotely sensed data of BrO from the GOME-2 satellite instrument and ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) at Eureka, Canada, are used for model validation. The observed climatology data show that spring surface ozone at coastal sites is heavily depleted, making ozone seasonality at Arctic coastal sites distinctly different from that at inland sites. Model simulations show that surface ozone can be greatly reduced by bromine chemistry. In April, bromine chemistry can cause a net ozone loss (monthly mean) of 10–20 ppbv, with almost half attributable to open-ocean-sourced bromine and the rest to sea-ice-sourced bromine. However, the open-ocean-sourced bromine, via sea spray bromide depletion, cannot by itself produce ozone depletion events (ODEs; defined as ozone volume mixing ratios, VMRs, < 10 ppbv). In contrast, sea-ice-sourced bromine, via sea salt aerosol (SSA) production from blowing snow, can produce ODEs even without bromine from sea spray, highlighting the importance of sea ice surface in polar boundary layer chemistry. Modelled total inorganic bromine (BrY) over the Arctic sea ice is sensitive to model configuration; e.g. under the same bromine loading, BrY in the Arctic spring boundary layer in the p-TOMCAT control run (i.e. with all bromine emissions) can be 2 times that in the UKCA control run. Despite the model differences, both model control runs can successfully reproduce large bromine explosion events (BEEs) and ODEs in polar spring. Model-integrated tropospheric-column BrO generally matches GOME-2 tropospheric columns within ∼ 50 % in UKCA and a factor of 2 in p-TOMCAT. The success of the models in reproducing both ODEs and BEEs in the Arctic indicates that the relevant parameterizations implemented in the models work reasonably well, which supports the proposed mechanism of SSA production and bromide release on sea ice. Given that sea ice is a large source of SSA and halogens, changes in sea ice type and extent in a warming climate will influence Arctic boundary layer chemistry, including the oxidation of atmospheric elemental mercury. Note that this work dose not necessary rule out other possibilities that may act as a source of reactive bromine from the sea ice zone.

scholarly journals Synoptic-scale meteorological control on reactive bromine production and ozone depletion in the Arctic boundary layer: 3-D simulation with the GEM-AQ model

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 26207-26278 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Toyota ◽  
J. C. McConnell ◽  
A. Lupu ◽  
L. Neary ◽  
C. A. McLinden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Dry Deposition ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Heterogeneous Reactions ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Synoptic Scale ◽  
Arctic Boundary Layer

Abstract. Episodes of high bromine levels and surface ozone depletion in the springtime Arctic are simulated by an online air-quality model, GEM-AQ, with gas-phase and heterogeneous reactions of inorganic bromine species and a simple scheme of air-snowpack chemical interactions implemented for this study. Snowpack on sea ice is assumed to be the only source of bromine to the atmosphere and capable of converting relatively stable bromine species to photolabile Br2 via air-snowpack interactions. A "bromine explosion", by which Br− retained in the snowpack is autocatalytically released to the atmosphere as a result of dry deposition of HOBr and BrONO2, is assumed to occur on young, first-year (FY) sea ice (or its overlying snowpack), whereas the snowpack on old, multi-year (MY) sea ice and over land is assumed only to recycle a part (but up to 100%) of bromine reservoirs lost via dry deposition back to Br2. Model runs are performed for April 2001 at a horizontal resolution of approximately 100 km × 100 km in the Arctic. The model simulates temporal variations in surface ozone mixing ratios as observed at stations in the high Arctic and the synoptic-scale evolution of enhanced BrO column amounts ("BrO clouds") as seen from satellite reasonably well. The results strongly suggest: (1) a ubiquitous source of reactive bromine exists on the FY sea ice during the Arctic springtime; and (2) the timing of bromine release to the atmosphere is largely controlled by meteorological forcing on the transport of ozone to the near-surface air. Also, if the surface snowpack supplies most of the reactive bromine in the Arctic boundary layer, it should be capable of releasing reactive bromine at temperatures as high as −10 °C, particularly on the FY sea ice in the central and eastern Arctic Ocean. Dynamically-induced BrO column variability in the lowermost stratosphere appears to interfere with the use of satellite BrO column measurements for interpreting BrO variability in the lower troposphere but probably not to the extent of totally obscuring "BrO clouds" associated with the surface source of bromine in the high Arctic. Contrary to our original intention, the present air-snowpack interaction scheme yields a majority of atmospheric bromine input via Br2 release associated empirically with a dry deposition of ozone on the snow/ice surface under sunlight to represent a trigger of bromine explosion. This implies that the bromine explosion actually occurs in the interstitial air of snowpack and/or is accelerated by heterogeneous reactions on the surface of wind-blown snow in ambient air, both of which are missing in our model but could have been approximated by a parameter adjustment for the yield of Br2 from the trigger.

scholarly journals Reproducing springtime Arctic tropospheric ozone depletion events in an outdoor mesocosm sea-ice facility

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Gao ◽  
Nicolas-Xavier Geilfus ◽  
Alfonso Saiz-Lopez ◽  
Feiyue Wang
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Ozone Loss ◽  
Ozone Concentrations ◽  
Air Temperatures

Abstract. The episodic build-up of gas-phase reactive bromine species over sea ice and snowpack in the springtime Arctic plays an important role in the boundary layer, causing annual concurrent depletion of ozone and gaseous elemental mercury during polar sunrise. Extensive studies have shown that these phenomena, known as bromine explosion events (BEEs), ozone depletion events (ODEs) and mercury depletion events (MDEs), respectively, are all triggered by gas-phase reactive bromine species that are photochemically activated from bromide via multi-phase reactions under freezing air temperatures. However, major knowledge gaps exist in both fundamental cryo-photochemical processes causing these events and meteorological conditions that may affect their timing and magnitude. Here, we report an outdoor mesocosm-scale study in which we successfully reproduced ODEs at the Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility (SERF) in Winnipeg, Canada. By monitoring ozone concentrations inside large, acrylic tubes over bromide-enriched artificial seawater during entire sea ice freeze-and-melt cycles, we observed mid-day photochemical ozone loss in winter in the boundary layer air immediately above the sea ice surface in a pattern that is characteristic of BEE-induced ODEs in the Arctic. The importance of UV radiation and the presence of a condensed phase (experimental sea ice or snow) in causing such surface ozone loss was demonstrated by comparing ozone concentrations between UV-transmitting and UV-blocking acrylic tubes under different air temperatures. The ability of reproducing BEE-induced ODEs at a mesocosm scale in a non-polar region provides a new approach to systematically studying the cryo-photochemical and meteorological processes leading to BEEs, ODEs, and MDEs in the Arctic, their role in biogeochemical cycles across the ocean-sea ice-atmosphere interfaces, and their sensitivities to climate change.

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