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Physical properties of the aerosol at the South Pole
Author(s) -
Hogan Austin W.,
Barnard Stephen,
Bortiniak J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl006i011p00845
Subject(s) - aerosol , troposphere , radius , atmospheric sciences , precipitation , environmental science , volume (thermodynamics) , homogeneous , mass concentration (chemistry) , effective radius , meteorology , physics , thermodynamics , astrophysics , computer security , galaxy , computer science
The size distribution of aerosol arriving at the South Pole was measured several times during four days of relatively homogeneous meteorological transport conditions. This aerosol had a maximum number concentration in the 10 −6 cm < r < 8×10 −6 cm radius rangeand a maximum volume concentration in the 2×10 −5 − 2×10 −4 cm radius rangea total number concentration of 106/cm³ and a total volume concentration of 10 −6 cm³/m³which would correspond to a mean mass concentration of about 1‐2 µgm/m³. Almost all particles of r ⪖ 1.5×10 −5 cm were hygroscopicwith refractive index near 1.54. No particles of r ≥ 6×10 −4 cm were found in 75m³ of airand an average of 44/cm³ carried charges. This aerosol represents the background aerosol which occurs at the end point of a long series of meteorological precipitation processes; aerosols suffering a similar chain of processes while being transported vertically in the troposphere may also approach the same end point.