Aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in Tiksi, Russian Arctic

Four years of continuous aerosol number size distribution measurements from the Arctic Climate Observatory in Tiksi, Russia, are analyzed. Tiksi is located in a region where in situ information on aerosol particle properties has not been previously available. Particle size distributions were mea...

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Main Authors: E. Asmi, V. Kondratyev, D. Brus, T. Laurila, H. Lihavainen, J. Backman, V. Vakkari, M. Aurela, J. Hatakka, Y. Viisanen, T. Uttal, V. Ivakhov, A. Makshtas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2016-02-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/1271/2016/acp-16-1271-2016.pdf
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author E. Asmi
V. Kondratyev
V. Kondratyev
D. Brus
T. Laurila
H. Lihavainen
J. Backman
V. Vakkari
M. Aurela
J. Hatakka
Y. Viisanen
T. Uttal
V. Ivakhov
A. Makshtas
author_facet E. Asmi
V. Kondratyev
V. Kondratyev
D. Brus
T. Laurila
H. Lihavainen
J. Backman
V. Vakkari
M. Aurela
J. Hatakka
Y. Viisanen
T. Uttal
V. Ivakhov
A. Makshtas
author_sort E. Asmi
collection DOAJ
description Four years of continuous aerosol number size distribution measurements from the Arctic Climate Observatory in Tiksi, Russia, are analyzed. Tiksi is located in a region where in situ information on aerosol particle properties has not been previously available. Particle size distributions were measured with a differential mobility particle sizer (in the diameter range of 7&ndash;500 nm) and with an aerodynamic particle sizer (in the diameter range of 0.5&ndash;10 &mu;m). Source region effects on particle modal features and number, and mass concentrations are presented for different seasons. The monthly median total aerosol number concentration in Tiksi ranges from 184 cm<sup>&minus;3</sup> in November to 724 cm<sup>&minus;3</sup> in July, with a local maximum in March of 481 cm<sup>&minus;3</sup>. The total mass concentration has a distinct maximum in February&ndash;March of 1.72&ndash;2.38 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;3</sup> and two minimums in June (0.42 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;3</sup>) and in September&ndash;October (0.36&ndash;0.57 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;3</sup>). These seasonal cycles in number and mass concentrations are related to isolated processes and phenomena such as Arctic haze in early spring, which increases accumulation and coarse-mode numbers, and secondary particle formation in spring and summer, which affects the nucleation and Aitken mode particle concentrations. Secondary particle formation was frequently observed in Tiksi and was shown to be slightly more common in marine, in comparison to continental, air flows. Particle formation rates were the highest in spring, while the particle growth rates peaked in summer. These results suggest two different origins for secondary particles, anthropogenic pollution being the important source in spring and biogenic emissions being significant in summer. The impact of temperature-dependent natural emissions on aerosol and cloud condensation nuclei numbers was significant: the increase in both the particle mass and the CCN (cloud condensation nuclei) number with temperature was found to be higher than in any previous study done over the boreal forest region. In addition to the precursor emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds, the frequent Siberian forest fires, although far away, are suggested to play a role in Arctic aerosol composition during the warmest months. Five fire events were isolated based on clustering analysis, and the particle mass and cloud condensation nuclei number were shown to be somewhat affected by these events. In addition, during calm and cold months, aerosol concentrations were occasionally increased by local aerosol sources in trapping inversions. These results provide valuable information on interannual cycles and sources of Arctic aerosols.
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spelling doaj.art-b0b243856c1b4dc8930038185055272f2022-12-21T19:30:26ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242016-02-01161271128710.5194/acp-16-1271-2016Aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in Tiksi, Russian ArcticE. Asmi0V. Kondratyev1V. Kondratyev2D. Brus3T. Laurila4H. Lihavainen5J. Backman6V. Vakkari7M. Aurela8J. Hatakka9Y. Viisanen10T. Uttal11V. Ivakhov12A. Makshtas13Atmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandYakutian Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, Tiksi, RussiaAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO, USAVoeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, St. Petersburg, RussiaArctic and Antarctic Research Institute, St. Petersburg, RussiaFour years of continuous aerosol number size distribution measurements from the Arctic Climate Observatory in Tiksi, Russia, are analyzed. Tiksi is located in a region where in situ information on aerosol particle properties has not been previously available. Particle size distributions were measured with a differential mobility particle sizer (in the diameter range of 7&ndash;500 nm) and with an aerodynamic particle sizer (in the diameter range of 0.5&ndash;10 &mu;m). Source region effects on particle modal features and number, and mass concentrations are presented for different seasons. The monthly median total aerosol number concentration in Tiksi ranges from 184 cm<sup>&minus;3</sup> in November to 724 cm<sup>&minus;3</sup> in July, with a local maximum in March of 481 cm<sup>&minus;3</sup>. The total mass concentration has a distinct maximum in February&ndash;March of 1.72&ndash;2.38 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;3</sup> and two minimums in June (0.42 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;3</sup>) and in September&ndash;October (0.36&ndash;0.57 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;3</sup>). These seasonal cycles in number and mass concentrations are related to isolated processes and phenomena such as Arctic haze in early spring, which increases accumulation and coarse-mode numbers, and secondary particle formation in spring and summer, which affects the nucleation and Aitken mode particle concentrations. Secondary particle formation was frequently observed in Tiksi and was shown to be slightly more common in marine, in comparison to continental, air flows. Particle formation rates were the highest in spring, while the particle growth rates peaked in summer. These results suggest two different origins for secondary particles, anthropogenic pollution being the important source in spring and biogenic emissions being significant in summer. The impact of temperature-dependent natural emissions on aerosol and cloud condensation nuclei numbers was significant: the increase in both the particle mass and the CCN (cloud condensation nuclei) number with temperature was found to be higher than in any previous study done over the boreal forest region. In addition to the precursor emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds, the frequent Siberian forest fires, although far away, are suggested to play a role in Arctic aerosol composition during the warmest months. Five fire events were isolated based on clustering analysis, and the particle mass and cloud condensation nuclei number were shown to be somewhat affected by these events. In addition, during calm and cold months, aerosol concentrations were occasionally increased by local aerosol sources in trapping inversions. These results provide valuable information on interannual cycles and sources of Arctic aerosols.https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/1271/2016/acp-16-1271-2016.pdf
spellingShingle E. Asmi
V. Kondratyev
V. Kondratyev
D. Brus
T. Laurila
H. Lihavainen
J. Backman
V. Vakkari
M. Aurela
J. Hatakka
Y. Viisanen
T. Uttal
V. Ivakhov
A. Makshtas
Aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in Tiksi, Russian Arctic
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in Tiksi, Russian Arctic
title_full Aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in Tiksi, Russian Arctic
title_fullStr Aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in Tiksi, Russian Arctic
title_full_unstemmed Aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in Tiksi, Russian Arctic
title_short Aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in Tiksi, Russian Arctic
title_sort aerosol size distribution seasonal characteristics measured in tiksi russian arctic
url https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/1271/2016/acp-16-1271-2016.pdf
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