Collaborative Research: High-resolution Study of Atmosphere, Ice, and Aerosol Interactions in Coastal Antarctica

University Of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder CO

Investigators

Abstract

Researchers seek to make high-resolution temporal and size distribution measurements of aerosol composition and size in the Ross Island region, coastal Antarctica. An Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) will be used to provide quantitative size and chemical mass loading information, in near real-time of non-refractory sub-micron aerosol particles such as sulfate, nitrate, chloride, ammonium, and organic carbon species. Additional measurements will include aerosol sizing with overlapping size ranges from 20 nm to 100 um, and particle into liquid sampling for bulk ionic compositional analysis of larger aerosol particles. Advantages in continuous AMS monitoring of aerosol include being able to observe the episodic nature and short duration of new particle nucleation events, thus capturing the extreme variability of meteorological conditions expected in maritime Antarctica. These aerosol measurements are likely to be of interest to other disciplines. Training of a post-doctoral associate, and research experience for a Polar-TREC participant are allied broader impacts.