Data from: Wind-driven emission of marine ice nucleating particles in the Scripps Ocean-Atmosphere Research Simulator (SOARS)

Sea spray aerosol (SSA) represent one of the most abundant natural aerosol
types, contributing significantly to global aerosol mass and aerosol
optical depth, as well as to both the magnitude and uncertainty of aerosol
radiative forcing. In addition to their direct effects, SSA can also serve
as ice nucleating particles (INPs), which are required for the initiation
of cloud glaciation at temperatures warmer than ~-36 °C. This study
presents initial results from the CHaracterizing Atmosphere-Ocean
parameters in SOARS (CHAOS) mesocosm campaign, which was conducted in the
new Scripps Ocean-Atmosphere Research Simulator (SOARS) wind-wave channel.
SOARS allows for isolation of individual factors, such as wave height,
wind speed, water temperature, or biological state, and can carefully vary
them in a controlled manner. Here, we focus on the influence of wind speed
on the emission of SSA and INPs. In agreement with recent Southern Ocean
measurements, online INP observations during CHAOS showed an increasing
relationship with wind speed, whereas offline CHAOS INP measurements did
not, which may be related to sampling inlet differences. Changes in the
INP activated fraction, dominant INP particle morphology, and INP
composition were seen to vary with wind. Seawater ice nucleating entity
concentrations during CHAOS were stable over time, indicating changes in
atmospheric INPs were driven by wind speed and wave-breaking mechanics
rather than variations in seawater chemistry or biology. While specific
emission mechanisms remain elusive, these observations may help explain
some of the variability in INP concentration and composition that have
been seen in ambient measurements.