A11C-0068
Size-Resolved Chemical Analysis of Individual Atmospheric Aerosols near Barrow, Alaska
Monday, 14 December 2015
Poster Hall (Moscone South)
Matthew Gunsch, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Tate Edward Barrett, Baylor University, Institute of Ecological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Waco, TX, United States, Rebecca J Sheesley, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States and Kerri Pratt, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Department of Chemistry and Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Abstract:
Climate change is having noticeable impacts on the Arctic with increasing temperatures and decreasing sea ice coverage. Loss of sea ice is leading to development of oil and gas extraction activities and increased shipping in the Arctic. Arctic aerosol emissions are expected to increase with increasing anthropogenic activities and production of sea spray aerosol. These particles have significant climate effects, including interacting with radiation, forming cloud droplets and ice crystals, and depositing onto surfaces. Given the complexity and evolving nature of atmospheric particles, as well as the challenges associated with Arctic measurements, significant uncertainties remain in our understanding of particle sources, evolution, and impacts in the Arctic. To investigate the size and chemistry of individual particles in real-time, an aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS) was deployed to Barrow, Alaska during August-September 2015. Parallel size-resolved number concentration measurements allow the quantification of number and mass concentrations of particles from various sources, including sea spray aerosol, biomass burning, and diesel combustion, for example.
