Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head?
Atmospheric aerosols have been sampled and characterised at the Mace Head north-east (NE) Atlantic atmospheric research station since 1958, with many interesting phenomena being discovered. However, with the range of new discoveries and scientific advances, there has been a range of concomitant crit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-10-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10687/2014/acp-14-10687-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1828155579965636608 |
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| author | C. O'Dowd D. Ceburnis J. Ovadnevaite A. Vaishya M. Rinaldi M. C. Facchini |
| author_facet | C. O'Dowd D. Ceburnis J. Ovadnevaite A. Vaishya M. Rinaldi M. C. Facchini |
| author_sort | C. O'Dowd |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atmospheric aerosols have been sampled and characterised at the Mace Head
north-east (NE) Atlantic atmospheric research station since 1958, with many
interesting phenomena being discovered. However, with the range of new
discoveries and scientific advances, there has been a range of concomitant
criticisms challenging the representativeness of aerosol sampled at the
station compared to that of aerosol over the pristine open-ocean. Two recurring
criticisms relate to the lack of representativeness due to
potentially enhanced coastal sources, possibly leading to artificially high
values of aerosol concentrations, and to the influence of long-range
transport of anthropogenic or continental aerosol and its potential dominance
over, or perturbation of, a natural marine aerosol signal. Here, we review the
results of previous experimental studies on marine aerosols over the NE Atlantic and at Mace Head with the aim of evaluating their representativeness
relative to that of a pristine open-ocean aerosol, i.e. with negligible
anthropogenic/continental influence. Particular focus is given to submicron
organic matter (OM) aerosol. In summary, no correlation was found between OM
and black carbon (BC) in marine air conforming to clean-air sampling
criteria, either at BC levels of 0–15 or 15–50 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, suggesting
that OM concentrations, up to observed peak values of
3.8 μg m<sup>−3</sup>, are predominantly natural in origin.
Sophisticated carbon isotope analysis and aerosol mass spectral finger
printing techniques corroborate the conclusion that there is a predominant natural
source of OM, with 80% biogenic source apportionment being observed for
general clean-air conditions, rising to ∼98% during specific
primary marine organic plumes when peak OM mass concentrations
> 3 μg m<sup>−3</sup> are observed. Similarly, a maximum
contribution of 20% OM mass coming from non-marine sources was
established by dual carbon isotope analysis. Further, analysis of a series of
experiments conducted at Mace Head conclude that negligible coastal, surf
zone, or tidal effects are discernible in the secondary or primary aerosol
mass residing in the submicron size range for sampling heights of 7 m and
above. The Mace Head marine-air criteria ensure anthropogenic and coastal
effects are sufficiently minimised so as to guarantee a predominant, and
sometimes overwhelming, natural marine aerosol contribution to the total
aerosol population when the criteria are adhered to. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:55:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d772e20d81424d61853dca9f112d2fef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:55:50Z |
| publishDate | 2014-10-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-d772e20d81424d61853dca9f112d2fef2022-12-22T03:58:25ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242014-10-011419106871070410.5194/acp-14-10687-2014Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head?C. O'Dowd0D. Ceburnis1J. Ovadnevaite2A. Vaishya3M. Rinaldi4M. C. Facchini5School of Physics and Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, IrelandSchool of Physics and Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, IrelandSchool of Physics and Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, IrelandSchool of Physics and Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, IrelandIstituto di Scienze dell'Atmosfera e del Clima, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bologna, ItalyIstituto di Scienze dell'Atmosfera e del Clima, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bologna, ItalyAtmospheric aerosols have been sampled and characterised at the Mace Head north-east (NE) Atlantic atmospheric research station since 1958, with many interesting phenomena being discovered. However, with the range of new discoveries and scientific advances, there has been a range of concomitant criticisms challenging the representativeness of aerosol sampled at the station compared to that of aerosol over the pristine open-ocean. Two recurring criticisms relate to the lack of representativeness due to potentially enhanced coastal sources, possibly leading to artificially high values of aerosol concentrations, and to the influence of long-range transport of anthropogenic or continental aerosol and its potential dominance over, or perturbation of, a natural marine aerosol signal. Here, we review the results of previous experimental studies on marine aerosols over the NE Atlantic and at Mace Head with the aim of evaluating their representativeness relative to that of a pristine open-ocean aerosol, i.e. with negligible anthropogenic/continental influence. Particular focus is given to submicron organic matter (OM) aerosol. In summary, no correlation was found between OM and black carbon (BC) in marine air conforming to clean-air sampling criteria, either at BC levels of 0–15 or 15–50 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, suggesting that OM concentrations, up to observed peak values of 3.8 μg m<sup>−3</sup>, are predominantly natural in origin. Sophisticated carbon isotope analysis and aerosol mass spectral finger printing techniques corroborate the conclusion that there is a predominant natural source of OM, with 80% biogenic source apportionment being observed for general clean-air conditions, rising to ∼98% during specific primary marine organic plumes when peak OM mass concentrations > 3 μg m<sup>−3</sup> are observed. Similarly, a maximum contribution of 20% OM mass coming from non-marine sources was established by dual carbon isotope analysis. Further, analysis of a series of experiments conducted at Mace Head conclude that negligible coastal, surf zone, or tidal effects are discernible in the secondary or primary aerosol mass residing in the submicron size range for sampling heights of 7 m and above. The Mace Head marine-air criteria ensure anthropogenic and coastal effects are sufficiently minimised so as to guarantee a predominant, and sometimes overwhelming, natural marine aerosol contribution to the total aerosol population when the criteria are adhered to.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10687/2014/acp-14-10687-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | C. O'Dowd D. Ceburnis J. Ovadnevaite A. Vaishya M. Rinaldi M. C. Facchini Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head? Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head? |
| title_full | Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head? |
| title_fullStr | Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head? |
| title_short | Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head? |
| title_sort | do anthropogenic continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at mace head |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10687/2014/acp-14-10687-2014.pdf |
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