Molecular Characterization of Organosulfates in Arctic Ocean and Antarctic atmospheric aerosols

Abstract. Organic aerosols are ubiquitous components of atmospheric aerosols. Organosulfate aerosols have been detected in the Arctic Ocean atmosphere and may play an important role in the radiative balance in Polar Regions. Aerosol samples from the Arctic Ocean and Antarctic atmosphere during 2014/2015 CHINARE were analysed by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry coupled with negative ion mode electrospray ionization (ESI(-)-UHRMS). Hundreds of organic compounds were detected and tentatively determined by their formulas, including organosulfates (OSs), nitrooxy-organosulfates (NOSs), organonitrates (ONs) and oxygenated hydrocarbons (OxyCs). The number of OSs/NOSs accounted for 28–32 % of the total number of detected molecules at polar sites and ONs were 28–40 %. Organic compounds of Arctic Ocean and Antarctic aerosols had high oxidation states for carbon and a large percentage of high molecular weight formulas; this indicated that aged organic aerosols likely comprise a significant part of the polar atmosphere. We hypothesized that highly oxidized HMW compounds tend to be transported to the polar area from stratospheric reservoirs. Dramatic differences of the molecular characteristics were observed when we compared aerosol samples between polar sites and Guangzhou sites, reflecting the different oxidation mechanisms and atmospheric transmission. The polar sites contained higher fractions of OSs/NOSs and lower fractions of ONs than the Guangzhou sites did; this indicated that the oxidation of NOx was weaker in the polar region. Observing that the fraction and oxidation states of polycyclic aromatic OSs/NOSs polar regions were similar to the Guangzhou urban area but not the rural area implied an anthropogenic influence on OSs/NOSs in remote polar areas. In addition, the contribution of potential precursors (anthropogenic and biogenic volatile organic compounds) to OS and NOS formation as well as the effects of nss-SO4 aerosols, pH and RH on OS formation in polar areas were discussed. Our study presents the first overview of OSs and ONs in the Arctic Ocean and Antarctic atmosphere and promotes the understanding of their characteristics and sources.

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Organic molecular composition of marine aerosols over the Arctic Ocean in summer: contributions of primary emission and secondary aerosol formation

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-9-10429-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 10429-10465

Author(s):

P. Q. Fu ◽

K. Kawamura ◽

J. Chen ◽

B. Charrière ◽

R. Sempéré

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Arctic Ocean ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Organic Aerosols ◽

Molecular Composition ◽

The Arctic ◽

Marine Aerosols ◽

Aerosol Formation ◽

The Arctic Ocean

Abstract. Organic molecular composition of marine aerosol samples collected during the MALINA cruise in the Arctic Ocean was investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. More than 110 individual organic compounds were determined in the samples and were grouped into different compound classes based on the functionality and sources. The concentrations of total quantified organics ranged from 7.3 to 185 ng m−3 (mean 47.6 ng m−3), accounting for 1.8–11.0% (4.8%) of organic carbon in the marine aerosols. Primary saccharides were found to be dominant organic compound class, followed by secondary organic aerosol (SOA) tracers formed from the oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as isoprene, α-pinene and β-caryophyllene. Mannitol, the specific tracer for airborne fungal spores, was detected as the most abundant organic species in the samples with a concentration range of 0.052–53.3 ng m−3 (9.2 ng m−3), followed by glucose, arabitol, and the isoprene oxidation products of 2-methyltetrols. Biomass burning tracers such as levoglucosan are evident in all samples with trace levels. On the basis of the tracer-based method for the estimation of fungal-spore OC and biogenic secondary organic carbon (SOC), we estimate that an average of 10.7% (up to 26.2%) of the OC in the marine aerosols was due to the contribution of fungal spores, followed by the contribution of isoprene SOC (mean 3.8%) and α-pinene SOC (2.9%). In contrast, only 0.19% of the OC was due to the photooxidation of β-caryophyllene. This study indicates that primary organic aerosols from biogenic emissions, both from long-range transport of mid-latitude aerosols and from sea-to-air emission of marine organics, as well as secondary organic aerosols formed from the photooxidation of biogenic VOCs are important factors controlling the organic chemical composition of marine aerosols in the Arctic Ocean.

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Organic molecular composition of marine aerosols over the Arctic Ocean in summer: contributions of primary emission and secondary aerosol formation

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-10-653-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 653-667 ◽

Cited By ~ 114

Author(s):

P. Q. Fu ◽

K. Kawamura ◽

J. Chen ◽

B. Charrière ◽

R. Sempéré

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Arctic Ocean ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Organic Aerosols ◽

Molecular Composition ◽

The Arctic ◽

Marine Aerosols ◽

Aerosol Formation ◽

The Arctic Ocean

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Size Distribution and Depolarization Properties of Aerosol Particles over the Northwest Pacific and Arctic Ocean from Shipborne Measurements during an R/V Xuelong Cruise

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-13205 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaole Pan ◽

Yu Tian ◽

Jinpei Yan ◽

Qi Lin ◽

Yele Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arctic Ocean ◽

Atmospheric Aerosols ◽

Fine Particles ◽

Chem Phys ◽

Sea Salt ◽

The Arctic ◽

Northwest Pacific ◽

Polar Regions ◽

High Particle ◽

The Arctic Ocean

<p>Atmospheric aerosols over polar regions have attracted considerable attention for their pivotal effects on climate change. In this study, temporospatial variations in single-particle-based depolarization ratios (&#948;: s-polarized component divided by the total backward scattering intensity) were studied over the Northwest Pacific and the Arctic Ocean using an optical particle counter with a depolarization module. The &#948; value of aerosols was 0.06 &#177; 0.01 for the entire observation period, 61 &#177; 10% lower than the observations for coastal Japan (0.12 &#177; 0.02) (Pan et al. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2016, 16, 9863&#8722;9873) and inland China (0.19 &#177; 0.02) (Tian et al. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2018, 18, 18203&#8722;18217) in summer. The volume concentration showed two dominant size modes at 0.9 and 2 &#956;m. The super-micrometer particles were mostly related to sea-salt aerosols with a &#948; value of 0.09 over marine polar areas, &#8764;22% larger than in the low-latitude region because of differences in chemical composition and dry air conditions. The &#948; values for fine particles (<1 &#956;m) were 0.05 &#177; 0.1, 50% lower than inland anthropogenic pollutants, mainly because of the complex mixtures of sub-micrometer sea salts. High particle concentrations in the Arctic Ocean could mostly be attributed to the strong marine emission of sea salt associated with deep oceanic cyclones, whereas long-range transport pollutants from the continent were among the primary causes of high particle concentrations in the Northwest Pacific region.</p>

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The role of sea ice for plastic pollution in the Arctic

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-13366 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ilka Peeken ◽

Elisa Bergami ◽

Ilaria Corsi ◽

Benedikt Hufnagl ◽

Christian Katlein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Arctic Ocean ◽

Long Range ◽

Environmental Concern ◽

Ice Cores ◽

Atlantic Water ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Plastic Pollution ◽

The Arctic Ocean

<p>Marine plastic pollution is a growing worldwide environmental concern as recent reports indicate that increasing quantities of litter disperse into secluded environments, including Polar Regions. Plastic degrades into smaller fragments under the influence of sunlight, temperature changes, mechanic abrasion and wave action resulting in small particles < 5mm called microplastics (MP). Sea ice cores, collected in the Arctic Ocean have so far revealed extremely high concentrations of very small microplastic particles, which might be transferred in the ecosystem with so far unknown consequences for the ice dependant marine food chain.&#160; Sea ice has long been recognised as a transport vehicle for any contaminates entering the Arctic Ocean from various long range and local sources. The Fram Strait is hereby both, a major inflow gateway of warm Atlantic water, with any anthropogenic imprints and the major outflow region of sea ice originating from the Siberian shelves and carried via the Transpolar Drift. The studied sea ice revealed a unique footprint of microplastic pollution, which were related to different water masses and indicating different source regions. Climate change in the Arctic include loss of sea ice, therefore, large fractions of the embedded plastic particles might be released and have an impact on living systems. By combining modeling of sea ice origin and growth, MP particle trajectories in the water column as well as MPs long-range transport via particle tracking and transport models we get first insights &#160;about the sources and pathways of MP in the Arctic Ocean and beyond and how this might affect the Arctic ecosystem.</p>

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CULTIVATED AEROSOL MICROORGANISMS DETECTED DURING AIRPLANE SENSING OF THE ATMOSPHERE OVER THE ARCTIC SEAS OF RUSSIA

Interexpo GEO-Siberia ◽

10.33764/2618-981x-2021-4-1-86-94 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 86-94

Author(s):

Irina S. Andreeva ◽

Alexander S. Safatov ◽

Olesya V. Ohlopkova ◽

Maksim E. Rebus ◽

Galina A. Buryak

Keyword(s):

Genetic Analysis ◽

Arctic Ocean ◽

Atmospheric Aerosols ◽

The Arctic ◽

Arctic Seas ◽

Bacterial Cultures ◽

The Arctic Ocean ◽

Bacteria And Fungi ◽

Taxonomic Groups ◽

Different Altitudes

In September 2020, the atmosphere was probed using the Optik Tu-134 aircraft laboratory over the waters of the Arctic Ocean seas: the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi, and Bering seas. Unique samples of atmospheric aerosols were collected at the altitudes from 200 to 10,000 m including samples in impingers for identification and genetic analysis of culturable microorganisms. The paper presents data on the concentrations and diversity of bacteria and fungi isolated by seeding 24 samples of atmospheric aerosols collected at different altitudes over the Arctic seas of Russia. The main morphophysiological, biochemical and genomic characteristics were obtained for 152 bacterial cultures, and the taxonomic groups they belong to were determined.

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Sir Hubert Wilkins (1888-1958)

ARCTIC ◽

10.14430/arctic3749 ◽

1958 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 258

Author(s):

Bernt Balchen

Keyword(s):

Arctic Ocean ◽

South Australia ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Weddell Sea ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Geographical Society ◽

Intelligence Services ◽

The Arctic Ocean ◽

Antarctic Expedition

The passing of Sir Hubert Wilkins on November 30 means the loss of one of the most colourful figures of polar aviation and exploration. Sir Hubert was born in South Australia on October 31, 1888. He received his education as a mining engineer in Adelaide, and in his younger years worked as electrical engineer, meteorologist, and movie photographer. It was this last vocation that started him on his career of adventure and exploration. In 1912-13 he followed the Turkish Army as a movie photographer in the Balkan War. He was second in command of the Canadian Arctic Expedition 1913-18. He then joined the Royal Australian Flying Corps, learned to fly in 1917, and saw war service as a photographer and in the intelligence services. He was mentioned twice in dispatches and was awarded the Military Cross with Bar. After the war he served as navigator on one of the England-Australia flights in 1919, was second in command of the British Imperial Antarctic Expedition 1919-20, naturalist with the Shackleton Antarctic Expedition 1921-22, leader of the Australian Islands Expedition 1922-25 and leader of the Detroit Arctic Expeditions 1925-28. During these expeditions some very important pioneering flights were made in the Arctic, the most outstanding of which was the flight from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Green Harbour, Spitzbergen, April 15 to 21, 1928, which Wilkins and his pilot, Carl Ben Eielson, undertook in a single-engined Lockheed Vega. On this flight they crossed large areas of the Arctic Ocean in which other explorers had claimed to have seen land, but where Wilkins and Eielson found none. For this flight he was knighted on June 14, 1928. Sir Hubert then became leader of the Wilkins-Hearst Antarctic Expedition 1928-30 during which he discovered more than 500 miles of new coastline in the Graham Land sector. In 1931 he was leader of the Ellsworth Nautilus Submarine Expedition to the Arctic, and from 1932 to 1939 manager of the Ellsworth Antarctic Expeditions. The highlight of these was the trans-Antarctic flight from the Weddell Sea to Little America by Lincoln Ellsworth and Herbert Hollick-Kenyon in November 1935. Sir Hubert headed the search expedition for the lost Soviet flyer Levanevsky in 1937-38 and during the search covered about 170,000 sq. miles of the Arctic Ocean never previously seen. From 1942 he served as consultant to the U.S. Armed Forces on arctic problems. During his many flights and travels in the Polar regions Sir Hubert acquired a great store of knowledge of these environments, that provided invaluable help for later expeditions. He was the recipient of numerous honours from all over the world and was recognized by the American Geographical Society and the Royal Geographical Society. He was the author of many books, and active as scientist and lecturer. Sir Hubert was a man of the type that you always looked forward to meeting again. His memory will be cherished by those of us who had the privilege of being with him on polar expeditions and we shall always remember him as the finest companion one could wish for. He had courage and daring but was always even-tempered, kind and modest.

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Intercomparison of Precipitation Estimates over the Arctic Ocean and Its Peripheral Seas from Reanalyses

Journal of Climate ◽

10.1175/jcli-d-18-0125.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (20) ◽

pp. 8441-8462 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Linette N. Boisvert ◽

Melinda A. Webster ◽

Alek A. Petty ◽

Thorsten Markus ◽

David H. Bromwich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Arctic Ocean ◽

The Arctic ◽

Energy Budgets ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Basin Scale ◽

The Arctic Ocean ◽

Precipitation Estimates ◽

Microphysical Processes ◽

Precipitation Events

Precipitation over the Arctic Ocean has a significant impact on the basin-scale freshwater and energy budgets but is one of the most poorly constrained variables in atmospheric reanalyses. Precipitation controls the snow cover on sea ice, which impedes the exchange of energy between the ocean and atmosphere, inhibiting sea ice growth. Thus, accurate precipitation amounts are needed to inform sea ice modeling, especially for the production of thickness estimates from satellite altimetry freeboard data. However, obtaining a quantitative estimate of the precipitation distribution in the Arctic is notoriously difficult because of a number of factors, including a lack of reliable, long-term in situ observations; difficulties in remote sensing over sea ice; and model biases in temperature and moisture fields and associated uncertainty of modeled cloud microphysical processes in the polar regions. Here, we compare precipitation estimates over the Arctic Ocean from eight widely used atmospheric reanalyses over the period 2000–16 (nominally the “new Arctic”). We find that the magnitude, frequency, and phase of precipitation vary drastically, although interannual variability is similar. Reanalysis-derived precipitation does not increase with time as expected; however, an increasing trend of higher fractions of liquid precipitation (rainfall) is found. When compared with drifting ice mass balance buoys, three reanalyses (ERA-Interim, MERRA, and NCEP R2) produce realistic magnitudes and temporal agreement with observed precipitation events, while two products [MERRA, version 2 (MERRA-2), and CFSR] show large, implausible magnitudes in precipitation events. All the reanalyses tend to produce overly frequent Arctic precipitation. Future work needs to be undertaken to determine the specific factors in reanalyses that contribute to these discrepancies in the new Arctic.

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