Atmospheric new particle formation characteristics in the Arctic as measured at Mount Zeppelin, Svalbard, from 2016 to 2018
<p>We conducted continuous measurements of nanoparticles down to 3 nm size in the Arctic at Mount Zeppelin, Ny Ålesund, Svalbard, from October 2016 to December 2018, providing a size distribution of nanoparticles (3–60 nm). A significant number of nanoparticles as small a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/20/13425/2020/acp-20-13425-2020.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>We conducted continuous measurements of nanoparticles down
to 3 nm size in the Arctic at Mount Zeppelin, Ny Ålesund, Svalbard, from
October 2016 to December 2018, providing a size distribution of nanoparticles (3–60 nm). A significant number of nanoparticles as small as 3 nm were often
observed during new particle formation (NPF), particularly in summer,
suggesting that these were likely produced near the site rather than being
transported from other regions after growth. The average NPF frequency per
year was 23 %, having the highest percentage in August (63 %). The
average formation rate (<span class="inline-formula"><i>J</i></span>) and growth rate (GR) for 3–7 nm particles were
0.04 cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> and 2.07 nm h<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>, respectively. Although NPF
frequency in the Arctic was comparable to that in continental areas, the <span class="inline-formula"><i>J</i></span>
and GR were much lower. The number of nanoparticles increased more
frequently when air mass originated over the south and southwest ocean
regions; this pattern overlapped with regions having strong
chlorophyll <span class="inline-formula"><i>a</i></span> concentration and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) production
capacity (southwest ocean) and was also associated with increased NH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>
and H<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> concentration, suggesting that marine biogenic sources
were responsible for gaseous precursors to NPF. Our results show that
previously developed NPF occurrence criteria (low loss rate and high cluster
growth rate favor NPF) are also applicable to NPF in the Arctic.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |