Western Atlantic Climate Study II

Sea spray aerosol (SSA) impacts the Earth’s radiation budget indirectly by altering cloud properties including albedo, lifetime, and extent, and directly by scattering solar radiation. Characterization of the properties of SSA in its freshly emitted state is needed for accurate model calculations of climate impacts. In addition, simultaneous measurements of surface seawater are required to assess the impact of ocean properties on sea spray aerosol and to develop accurate parameterizations of the SSA number production flux for use in regional and global scale models.Sea spray aerosol (SSA) impacts the Earth’s radiation budget indirectly by altering cloud properties including albedo, lifetime, and extent, and directly by scattering solar radiation. Characterization of the properties of SSA in its freshly emitted state is needed for accurate model calculations of climate impacts. In addition, simultaneous measurements of surface seawater are required to assess the impact of ocean properties on sea spray aerosol and to develop accurate parameterizations of the SSA number production flux for use in regional and global scale models.