Arctic Aerosol Chemistry: Submicron Organic and Elemental Aerosol Composition at Utgiagvik (Barrow), Alaska, from March 2008 to February 2010

The general seasonal climatology and chemical composition of Arctic aerosol are basically well understood, but the contribution from organic compounds is not. At lower latitudes, organics are known to play a large role in climate forcing. We carried out a sampling program at Barrow, Alaska, to determine the fraction of Arctic aerosol that is organic, throughout the year, and identify functional group composition, possible anthropogenic sources, and to provide a basis for rigorous incorporation of Arctic aerosol chemical composition in climate change studies. With additional measurements from a new shortwave spectroradiometer covering the wavelength range 0.35 - 2.5 microns and supplemental data from the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program site at Barrow, we were able to quantify the shortwave component of the first aerosol indirect effect.