scholarly journals Summer aerosol measurements over the East Antarctic seasonal ice zone

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack B. Simmons ◽  
Ruhi S. Humphries ◽  
Stephen R. Wilson ◽  
Scott D. Chambers ◽  
Alastair G. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Absolute Humidity ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Polar Cell ◽  
Ferrel Cell ◽  
Extensive Range ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions ◽  
Seasonal Ice Zone

Abstract. Aerosol measurements over the Southern Ocean have been identified as critical to an improved understanding of aerosol-radiation and aerosol-cloud interactions, as there currently exists significant discrepancies between model results and measurements in this region. Previous springtime measurements from the East Antarctic seasonal ice zone revealed a significant increase in aerosol number concentrations when crossing the atmospheric polar front into the Polar cell. A return voyage in summer 2017 made a more extensive range of aerosols measurements, including in particular aerosol number concentrations and submicron size distributions. Again, significantly greater aerosol number concentrations were observed in the Polar cell than in the Ferrel cell. Unlike the previous spring voyage however, the polar front was unable to be identified by a step change in aerosol concentration. A possible explanation is that atmospheric mixing across the polar front occurs to a greater degree in summer, therefore weakening the atmospheric boundary at the front. This atmospheric mixing in summer complicates the determination of the polar front location. These changes, together with the increased source of precursors from phytoplankton emissions, are likely to explain the seasonal differences observed in the magnitude of aerosol populations between the Ferrel and Polar cell. In the present analysis, meteorological variables were used to identify different air-masses and then aerosol measurements were compared based on these identifications. CN3 concentrations measured during wind directions indicative of Polar cell airmasses (median 594 cm−3) were larger than those measured during wind directions indicative of Ferrel cell air (median 265 cm−3). CN3 and CCN concentrations were larger during periods where the absolute humidity was less than 4.3 gH2O/m3, indicative of free tropospheric or Antarctic continental airmasses, compared to other periods of the voyage. These results indicate that a persistently more concentrated aerosol population is present in the Polar cell over the East Antarctic seasonal ice zone, although the observed difference between the two cells may vary seasonally.

scholarly journals Summer aerosol measurements over the East Antarctic seasonal ice zone

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 9497-9513
Author(s):  
Jack B. Simmons ◽  
Ruhi S. Humphries ◽  
Stephen R. Wilson ◽  
Scott D. Chambers ◽  
Alastair G. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Absolute Humidity ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Seasonal Ice Zone

Abstract. Aerosol measurements over the Southern Ocean have been identified as critical to an improved understanding of aerosol–radiation and aerosol–cloud interactions, as there currently exists significant discrepancies between model results and measurements in this region. The atmosphere above the Southern Ocean provides crucial insight into an aerosol regime relatively free from anthropogenic influence, yet its remoteness ensures atmospheric measurements are relatively rare. Here we present observations from the Polar Cell Aerosol Nucleation (PCAN) campaign, hosted aboard the RV Investigator during a summer (January–March) 2017 voyage from Hobart, Australia, to the East Antarctic seasonal sea ice zone. A median particle number concentration (condensation nuclei > 3 nm; CN3) of 354 (95 % CI 345–363) cm−3 was observed from the voyage. Median cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations were 167 (95 % CI 158–176) cm−3. Measured particle size distributions suggested that aerosol populations had undergone significant cloud processing. To understand the variability in aerosol observations, measurements were classified by meteorological variables. Wind direction and absolute humidity were used to identify different air masses, and aerosol measurements were compared based on these identifications. CN3 concentrations measured during SE wind directions (median 594 cm−3) were higher than those measured during wind directions from the NW (median 265 cm−3). Increased frequency of measurements from these wind directions suggests the influence of large-scale atmospheric transport mechanisms on the local aerosol population in the boundary layer of the East Antarctic seasonal ice zone. Modelled back trajectories imply different air mass histories for each measurement group, supporting this suggestion. CN3 and CCN concentrations were higher during periods where the absolute humidity was less than 4.3 gH2O/m3, indicative of free tropospheric or Antarctic continental air masses, compared to other periods of the voyage. Increased aerosol concentration in air masses originating close to the Antarctic coastline have been observed in numerous other studies. However, the smaller changes observed in the present analyses suggest seasonal differences in atmospheric circulation, including lesser impact of synoptic low-pressure systems in summer. Further measurements in the region are required before a more comprehensive picture of atmospheric circulation in this region can be captured and its influence on local aerosol populations understood.

scholarly journals The effect of local sources on particle size and chemical composition and their role in aerosol-cloud interactions

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 32133-32173 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Portin ◽  
A. Leskinen ◽  
L. Hao ◽  
A. Kortelainen ◽  
P. Miettinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Local Sources ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions

Abstract. The effects of local pollutant sources and particle chemical composition on aerosol–cloud interactions were investigated by measuring cloud interstitial and total aerosol size distributions, particle chemical composition and hygroscopic growth factors and cloud droplet size distributions on an observation tower, with a special focus on comparing clean air masses with those affected by local sources. The polluted air masses contained more particles than the clean air masses in all size classes, excluding the accumulation mode. This was caused by cloud processing, which was also observed for the polluted air but to a lesser extent. Some, mostly minor, differences in the particle chemical composition between the air masses were observed. The average size and number concentration of activating particles were quite similar for both air masses, producing average droplet populations with only minor distinctions. As a case study, a long cloud event was analyzed in detail regarding emissions from local sources, including a paper mill and a heating plant. Clear differences in the total and accumulation mode particle concentrations, particle hygroscopicity and chemical composition during the cloud event were observed. Particularly, larger particles, higher hygroscopicities and elevated amounts of inorganic constituents, especially SO4, were linked with the pollutant plumes. In the air masses affected by traffic and domestic wood combustion, a bimodal particle hygroscopicity distribution was observed, indicating externally mixed aerosol. The variable conditions during the event had a clear impact on cloud droplet formation.

Characterization and Manipulation of Exposed Ge Nanocrystals

2004 ◽  
Vol 818 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.D. Sharp ◽  
Q. Xu ◽  
C.Y. Liao ◽  
D.O. Yi ◽  
J.W. Ager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrofluoric Acid ◽  
Metal Films ◽  
Silica Matrix ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Si Substrates ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Oxide Matrix ◽  
Ge Nanocrystals

AbstractIsotopically pure 70Ge and 74Ge nanocrystals embedded in SiO2 thin films on Si substrates have been fabricated through ion implantation and thermal annealing. Nanocrystals were subsequently exposed using a hydrofluoric acid etching procedure to selectively remove the oxide matrix while retaining up to 69% of the implanted Ge. Comparison of transmission electron micrographs (TEM) of as-grown crystals to atomic force microscope (AFM) data of exposed crystals reveals that the nanocrystal size distribution is very nearly preserved during etching. Therefore, this process provides a new means to use AFM for rapid and straightforward determination of size distributions of nanocrystals formed in a silica matrix. Once exposed, nanocrystals may be transferred to a variety of substrates, such as conducting metal films and optically transparent insulators for further characterization.

scholarly journals Continental anthropogenic primary particle number emissions

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 6823-6840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauli Paasonen ◽  
Kaarle Kupiainen ◽  
Zbigniew Klimont ◽  
Antoon Visschedijk ◽  
Hugo A. C. Denier van der Gon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Number ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Coke Production ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Carbon Particles ◽  
First Results ◽  
Aerosol Cloud Interactions

Abstract. Atmospheric aerosol particle number concentrations impact our climate and health in ways different from those of aerosol mass concentrations. However, the global, current and future anthropogenic particle number emissions and their size distributions are so far poorly known. In this article, we present the implementation of particle number emission factors and the related size distributions in the GAINS (Greenhouse Gas–Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies) model. This implementation allows for global estimates of particle number emissions under different future scenarios, consistent with emissions of other pollutants and greenhouse gases. In addition to determining the general particulate number emissions, we also describe a method to estimate the number size distributions of the emitted black carbon particles. The first results show that the sources dominating the particle number emissions are different to those dominating the mass emissions. The major global number source is road traffic, followed by residential combustion of biofuels and coal (especially in China, India and Africa), coke production (Russia and China), and industrial combustion and processes. The size distributions of emitted particles differ across the world, depending on the main sources: in regions dominated by traffic and industry, the number size distribution of emissions peaks in diameters range from 20 to 50 nm, whereas in regions with intensive biofuel combustion and/or agricultural waste burning, the emissions of particles with diameters around 100 nm are dominant. In the baseline (current legislation) scenario, the particle number emissions in Europe, Northern and Southern Americas, Australia, and China decrease until 2030, whereas especially for India, a strong increase is estimated. The results of this study provide input for modelling of the future changes in aerosol–cloud interactions as well as particle number related adverse health effects, e.g. in response to tightening emission regulations. However, there are significant uncertainties in these current emission estimates and the key actions for decreasing the uncertainties are pointed out.

The use of artificial neural networks in the problem of classifying cloud types in wide-angle images of the visible hemisphere of the sky.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikita Veremev
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Wide Angle ◽  
Reliable Determination ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Key Aspects

<p>Within the framework of meteorology and oceanology, the importance of the cloud mass and the type of clouds cannot be underestimated. When describing and studying weather, precipitation and the movement of air masses over the ocean, the amount and type of clouds determines the flows of precipitation, their intensity, helps to predict the weather and the content of various impurities in the air, which makes the study of the properties of cloud cover one of the key aspects of meteorological and oceanological research.</p><p>The types of clouds are determined by the specialist, visually comparing the picture of the sky over the ocean with the guideline documents, the use of which reduces the possibility of the human factor affecting the determination of these parameters.</p><p>For an accurate study, study of the dynamics and dependence of climatic models on the conditions of cloud types, long-term measurements of the same type and the continuity of their methods are required. However, all these data are very unevenly distributed over the Earth's surface, and the number of ship observations is greatly reduced.</p><p>Thus, taking into account the importance of reliable determination of data related to cloudiness and the problems of their accuracy, the relevance and need to automate the determination of cloud types are obvious.</p><p>As a result of the work, an algorithm was obtained that allows classifying cloud types based on photographs taken during long-term sea expeditions.</p>

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