Showing papers by "Leonard A. Barrie published in 2010"

Secondary formation of water-soluble organic acids and α-dicarbonyls and their contributions to total carbon and water-soluble organic carbon: Photochemical aging of organic aerosols in the Arctic spring

Abstract: [1] Water-soluble dicarboxylic acids (C2-C12), ketocarboxylic acids (C2-C6, C9), and α-dicarbonyls (glyoxal and methylglyoxal) were determined in the Arctic aerosols collected in winter to early summer, as well as aerosol total carbon (TC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Concentrations of TC and WSOC gradually decreased from late February to early June with a peak in spring, indicating a photochemical formation of water-soluble organic aerosols at a polar sunrise. We found that total (C2-C11) diacids (7–84 ng m−3) increased at polar sunrise by a factor of 4 and then decreased toward summer. Their contributions to TC (average 4.0%) peaked in early April and mid-May. The contribution of total diacids to WSOC was on average 7.1%. It gradually increased from February (5%) to a maximum in April (12.7%) with a second peak in mid-May (10.4%). Although oxalic acid (C2) is the dominant diacid until April, its predominance was replaced by succinic acid (C4) after polar sunrise. This may indicate that photochemical production of C2 was overwhelmed by its degradation when solar radiation was intensified and the atmospheric transport of its precursors from midlatitudes to the Arctic was ended in May. Interestingly, the contributions of azelaic (C9) and ω-oxobutanoic acids to WSOC increased in early summer possibly due to an enhanced emission of biogenic unsaturated fatty acids from the ocean followed by photochemical oxidation in the atmosphere. An enhanced contribution of diacids to TC and WSOC at polar sunrise may significantly alter the hygroscopic properties of organic aerosols in the Arctic.

Saharan dust and ice nuclei over Central Europe

Abstract: . Surface measurements of aerosol and ice nuclei (IN) at a Central European mountain site during an episode of dust transport from the Sahara are presented. Ice nuclei were sampled by electrostatic precipitation on silicon wafers and were analyzed in an isothermal static vapor diffusion chamber. The transport of mineral dust is simulated by the Eulerian regional dust model DREAM. Ice nuclei and mineral dust are significantly correlated, in particular IN number concentration and aerosol surface area. The ice nucleating characteristics of the aerosol as analyzed with respect to temperature and supersaturation are similar during the dust episode than during the course of the year. This suggests that dust may be a main constituent of ice nucleating aerosols in Central Europe.

Identification of trends and interannual variability of sulfate and black carbon in the Canadian High Arctic: 1981–2007

Abstract: [1] Trends and interannual variations of the Canadian High Arctic aerosol record at Alert, Canada (82.5°N), from 1981 to 2007 are investigated and attributed to the influences of anthropogenic emissions and long-range transports. Sulfate and black carbon (BC) atmospheric mass concentrations declined from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s but have been relatively steady since. These tendencies are closely associated with those of the anthropogenic emissions of Eurasia (Europe and the Asian part of the former Soviet Union) and North America (United States and Canada). Interannual variations correlate with two indices derived from the 700 hPa geopotential heights. Variations in the emissions and the geopotential height indices can be used to reproduce up to 75% of the variations of the observed Arctic sulfate and BC mass concentrations. Over the 27 years of observational record, the relative contribution to sulfate and BC at Alert from Eurasia has decreased from more than 90% to about 75%. During the same time, the contributions from North American emissions has increased from less than 10% to about 25%. The increasing influence from North America was due to the faster reductions of sulfur and black carbon emissions in Eurasia during the period of these observations.

WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS): Research Implementation Status

Abstract: Strong winds cause lifting of large amounts of sand and dust from bare, dry soils into the atmosphere. For countries in and downwind of arid regions, airborne sand and dust presents serious risks to the environment, property and human health. Impacts on health include respiratory and cardio-vascular problems, eye infections and in some regions, diseases such as meningitis and valley fever. Dust can efficiently carry irritating spores, bacteria, viruses and persistent organic pollutants. It can also efficiently transport nutrients to parts of the world oceans and affect marine biomass production. Other impacts include negative effects on the ground transport, aviation, agriculture and visibility. The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recognizes dust as a major component of the atmospheric aerosol that is an essential climate variable. Dust aerosol has important effects on weather through feedback on atmospheric dynamics, clouds and precipitation formation.

Seasonal variability of ice nuclei over Central Europe

Abstract: (1) Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Goethe-University, Frankfurt / Main, Germany, (2) World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, (3) Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany, (4) Institute for Environmental Mineralogy, TU Darmstadt, Germany, (5) Dept. of Geophysics and Planetary Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, (6) Biogeochemistry Dept., Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany