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On the link between ocean biota emissions, aerosol, and maritime clouds: Airborne, ground, and satellite measurements off the coast of California
Author(s) -
Sorooshian Armin,
Padró Luz T.,
Nenes Athanasios,
Feingold Graham,
McComiskey Allison,
Hersey Scott P.,
Gates Harmony,
Jonsson Haflidi H.,
Miller Steven D.,
Stephens Graeme L.,
Flagan Richard C.,
Seinfeld John H.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/2009gb003464
Subject(s) - aerosol , environmental science , cloud condensation nuclei , atmospheric sciences , chlorophyll a , satellite , effective radius , atmosphere (unit) , oceanography , meteorology , geology , chemistry , geography , engineering , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , aerospace engineering , galaxy
Surface, airborne, and satellite measurements over the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of California during the period between 2005 and 2007 are used to explore the relationship between ocean chlorophyll a , aerosol, and marine clouds. Periods of enhanced chlorophyll a and wind speed are coincident with increases in particulate diethylamine and methanesulfonate concentrations. The measurements indicate that amines are a source of secondary organic aerosol in the marine atmosphere. Subsaturated aerosol hygroscopic growth measurements indicate that the organic component during periods of high chlorophyll a and wind speed exhibit considerable water uptake ability. Increased average cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) activity during periods of increased chlorophyll a levels likely results from both size distribution and aerosol composition changes. The available data over the period of measurements indicate that the cloud microphysical response, as represented by either cloud droplet number concentration or cloud droplet effective radius, is likely influenced by a combination of atmospheric dynamics and aerosol perturbations during periods of high chlorophyll a concentrations.