Ozone variability and halogen oxidation within the Arctic and sub-Arctic springtime boundary layer
The influence of halogen oxidation on the variabilities of ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within the Arctic and sub-Arctic atmospheric boundary layer was investigated using field measurements from multiple campaigns conducted in March and Apri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2010-11-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/10/10223/2010/acp-10-10223-2010.pdf |
| Summary: | The influence of halogen oxidation on the variabilities of ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within the Arctic and sub-Arctic atmospheric boundary layer was investigated using field measurements from multiple campaigns conducted in March and April 2008 as part of the POLARCAT project. For the ship-based measurements, a high degree of correlation (<i>r</i> = 0.98 for 544 data points collected north of 68° N) was observed between the acetylene to benzene ratio, used as a marker for chlorine and bromine oxidation, and O<sub>3</sub> signifying the vast influence of halogen oxidation throughout the ice-free regions of the North Atlantic. Concurrent airborne and ground-based measurements in the Alaskan Arctic substantiated this correlation and were used to demonstrate that halogen oxidation influenced O<sub>3</sub> variability throughout the Arctic boundary layer during these springtime studies. Measurements aboard the R/V <i>Knorr</i> in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans provided a unique view of the transport of O<sub>3</sub>-poor air masses from the Arctic Basin to latitudes as far south as 52° N. FLEXPART, a Lagrangian transport model, was used to quantitatively determine the exposure of air masses encountered by the ship to first-year ice (FYI), multi-year ice (MYI), and total ICE (FYI+MYI). O<sub>3</sub> anti-correlated with the modeled total ICE tracer (<i>r</i> = &minus;0.86) indicating that up to 73% of the O<sub>3</sub> variability measured in the Arctic marine boundary layer could be related to sea ice exposure. |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |