Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/S00257X/1
Sea Salt Aerosol above Arctic Sea Ice - sources, processes and climate impacts (SSAASI-CLIM)
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr MM Frey, NERC British Antarctic Survey, Science Programmes
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr T Lachlan-Cope, NERC British Antarctic Survey, Science Programmes
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr A Kirchgaessner, NERC British Antarctic Survey, Science Programmes
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr LJ Clarke, Manchester Metropolitan University, School of Science and the Environment
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr A Jones, NERC British Antarctic Survey, Science Programmes
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr X Yang, NERC British Antarctic Survey, Science Programmes
- Grant held at:
- NERC British Antarctic Survey, Science Programmes
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Unknown
- ENRIs:
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Ocean - Atmosphere Interact.
- Sea ice
- Snow
- Radiative Processes & Effects
- Ice nucleation
- Aerosols
- Cloud formation
- Tropospheric Processes
- Atmospheric ice
- Water In The Atmosphere
- Abstract:
- Sea salt aerosol (SSA) may influence regional climate directly through scattering of radiation or indirectly via its role as cloud-forming particles. While it is well known that SSA can be cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) forming cloud droplets, it has been shown only recently that SSA can also be a source of ice nucleating particles (INP) forming ice crystals, depending on its chemical composition and surface shape. Arctic clouds are poorly represented in climate models, which is partly due to a lack of understanding of source and nucleating capability of natural aerosol in the high Arctic. Aerosol models for example do currently not capture aerosol maxima in the Arctic winter/spring observed at high latitudes. Recent field campaigns provide first evidence of a hypothesized source of SSA from salty blowing snow (BSn) above sea ice. During storms salty snow gets lofted into the air and undergoes sublimation to generate SSA. Additional but minor SSA sea ice sources are frost flowers and open leads. The impact on radiation and clouds of SSA from this new source of SSA above sea ice is not known. However, a quantitative understanding of natural aerosol processes and climate interactions is needed to provide a baseline against which to assess anthropogenic pollution reaching the Arctic and evaluate the success of mitigation measures. We therefore propose to determine the SSA source, fate and potential impact on Arctic climate associated with blowing snow above sea ice and other sea ice sources. To do this we seek funding to participate in the year-long Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) to observe aerosol processes in the central Arctic ocean throughout all seasons. Proposed measurements on the sea ice and on-board "FS Polarstern" include particle size and concentration (sub-micron to snow particle size), INP concentrations, and a range of chemical properties using aerosol filters. Sampling of snow on sea ice, brine, frost flowers will constrain the local source of SSA. Tethered balloon launches will yield information on the fate of particles formed near the sea ice surface as they get lofted to heights where clouds may form.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/S00257X/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Directed (RP) - NR1
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- MOSAiC
This grant award has a total value of £403,415
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DI - Equipment | DI - Staff | DA - Estate Costs | DA - Other Directly Allocated | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £69,667 | £109,770 | £105,030 | £51,350 | £24,069 | £32,377 | £178 | £10,976 |
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