Contribution of water-soluble organic matter from multiple marine geographic eco-regions to aerosols around Antarctica

Matteo Rinaldi, Marco Paglione, Stefano Decesari, Roy Harrison, David C.S. Beddows, Jurgita Ovadnevaite, Darius Ceburnis, Colin O´Dowd, Rafel Simó, Manuel Dall'Osto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present shipborne measurements of size-resolved concentrations
of aerosol components across ocean waters next to the Antarctic Peninsula,
South Orkney Islands, and South Georgia Island, evidencing aerosol features
associated with distinct eco-regions. Nonmethanesulfonic acid Water-Soluble
Organic Matter (WSOM) represented 6−8% and 11−22% of the aerosol PM1
mass originated in open ocean (OO) and sea ice (SI) regions, respectively. Other
major components included sea salt (86−88% OO, 24−27% SI), non sea salt
sulfate (3−4% OO, 35−40% SI), and MSA (1−2% OO, 11−12% SI). The
chemical composition of WSOM encompasses secondary organic components with diverse behaviors: while alkylamine concentrations were higher in SI air masses, oxalic acid showed higher concentrations in the open ocean air. Our online singleparticle mass spectrometry data exclude a widespread source from sea bird colonies, while the secondary production of oxalic acid and sulfur-containing organic species via cloud processing is suggested. We claim that the potential impact of the sympagic planktonic ecosystem on aerosol composition has been overlooked in past studies, and multiple eco-regions act as distinct aerosol sources around Antarctica.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7807-7817
Number of pages11
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume54
Issue number13
Early online date5 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Environmental Chemistry

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