Open AccessSpringtime Arctic haze contributions of submicron organic particles from European and Asian combustion sources
Author(s) -
Frossard Amanda A.,
Shaw Patrick M.,
Russell Lynn M.,
Kroll Jesse H.,
Canagaratna Manjula R.,
Worsnop Douglas R.,
Quinn Patricia K.,
Bates Timothy S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2010jd015178
Subject(s) - haze , aerosol , arctic , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , environmental chemistry , levoglucosan , coal combustion products , sulfate , combustion , climatology , chemistry , oceanography , meteorology , biomass burning , geology , geography , organic chemistry
The composition of Arctic aerosol, especially during the springtime Arctic haze, may play an important role in the radiative balance of the Arctic. The contribution of organic components to Arctic haze has only recently been investigated. Because measurements in this region are sparse, little is known about organic particle composition, sources, and concentrations. This study compares springtime measurements in the Arctic regions north of the Atlantic (ICEALOT, 2008) and Pacific (Barrow, Alaska, 2008 and 2009) oceans. The aerosol organic functional group composition from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with positive matrix factorization (PMF) and elemental tracer analysis indicate that mixed combustion sources account for more than 60% (>0.3 μ g m −3 ) of the submicron organic mass (OM 1 ) for springtime haze conditions in both regions. Correlations with typical combustion tracers (S, Zn, K, Br, V) provide evidence for the contribution of combustion sources to the Arctic OM 1 . However, the two regions are influenced by different urban and industrial centers with different fuel usage. High‐sulfur coal burning in northeastern Europe impacts the northern Atlantic Arctic region, while oil burning and forest fires in northeastern Asia and Alaska impact the northern Pacific Arctic region. Quadrupole and High Resolution Aerosol Mass Spectrometry measurements confirm the highly oxygenated nature of the OM 1 , with an oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) spectrum from PMF. High co‐emissions of sulfate and organics from coal‐burning in northeastern Europe produce significant concentrations of organosulfate functional groups that account for 10% of OM 1 measured by FTIR spectroscopy during ICEALOT. These observations provide preliminary support for a heterogeneous mechanism of organosulfate formation on acidic sulfate particles.