The free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particles

Abstract This study investigates aerosol particle transport from the free troposphere to the boundary layer in the summertime high Arctic. Observations from the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study field campaign show several occurrences of high aerosol particle concentrations above the boundary layer to...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Adele L. Igel, Annica M. L. Ekman, Caroline Leck, Michael Tjernström, Julien Savre, Joseph Sedlar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073808
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849321309005152256
author Adele L. Igel
Annica M. L. Ekman
Caroline Leck
Michael Tjernström
Julien Savre
Joseph Sedlar
author_facet Adele L. Igel
Annica M. L. Ekman
Caroline Leck
Michael Tjernström
Julien Savre
Joseph Sedlar
author_sort Adele L. Igel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigates aerosol particle transport from the free troposphere to the boundary layer in the summertime high Arctic. Observations from the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study field campaign show several occurrences of high aerosol particle concentrations above the boundary layer top. Large‐eddy simulations suggest that when these enhanced aerosol concentrations are present, they can be an important source of aerosol particles for the boundary layer. Most particles are transported to the boundary layer by entrainment. However, it is found that mixed‐phase stratocumulus clouds, which often extend into the inversion layer, also can mediate the transport of particles into the boundary layer by activation at cloud top and evaporation below cloud base. Finally, the simulations also suggest that aerosol properties at the surface sometimes may not be good indicators of aerosol properties in the cloud layer.
format Article
id doaj-art-40fdee300b4e4f13802478a4f0458cd0
institution Kabale University
issn 0094-8276
1944-8007
language English
publishDate 2017-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-40fdee300b4e4f13802478a4f0458cd02025-08-20T03:49:46ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072017-07-0144137053706010.1002/2017GL073808The free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particlesAdele L. Igel0Annica M. L. Ekman1Caroline Leck2Michael Tjernström3Julien Savre4Joseph Sedlar5Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado USADepartment of Meteorology and Bolin Centre for Climate Research Stockholm University Stockholm SwedenDepartment of Meteorology and Bolin Centre for Climate Research Stockholm University Stockholm SwedenDepartment of Meteorology and Bolin Centre for Climate Research Stockholm University Stockholm SwedenDepartment of Geography and Centre for Atmospheric Sciences University of Cambridge Cambridge UKDepartment of Meteorology and Bolin Centre for Climate Research Stockholm University Stockholm SwedenAbstract This study investigates aerosol particle transport from the free troposphere to the boundary layer in the summertime high Arctic. Observations from the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study field campaign show several occurrences of high aerosol particle concentrations above the boundary layer top. Large‐eddy simulations suggest that when these enhanced aerosol concentrations are present, they can be an important source of aerosol particles for the boundary layer. Most particles are transported to the boundary layer by entrainment. However, it is found that mixed‐phase stratocumulus clouds, which often extend into the inversion layer, also can mediate the transport of particles into the boundary layer by activation at cloud top and evaporation below cloud base. Finally, the simulations also suggest that aerosol properties at the surface sometimes may not be good indicators of aerosol properties in the cloud layer.https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073808Arctic aerosolsmixed‐phase cloudsboundary layer
spellingShingle Adele L. Igel
Annica M. L. Ekman
Caroline Leck
Michael Tjernström
Julien Savre
Joseph Sedlar
The free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particles
Geophysical Research Letters
Arctic aerosols
mixed‐phase clouds
boundary layer
title The free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particles
title_full The free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particles
title_fullStr The free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particles
title_full_unstemmed The free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particles
title_short The free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particles
title_sort free troposphere as a potential source of arctic boundary layer aerosol particles
topic Arctic aerosols
mixed‐phase clouds
boundary layer
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073808
work_keys_str_mv AT adeleligel thefreetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT annicamlekman thefreetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT carolineleck thefreetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT michaeltjernstrom thefreetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT juliensavre thefreetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT josephsedlar thefreetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT adeleligel freetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT annicamlekman freetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT carolineleck freetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT michaeltjernstrom freetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT juliensavre freetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles
AT josephsedlar freetroposphereasapotentialsourceofarcticboundarylayeraerosolparticles