Concentration, size distribution and chemical composition of snow particles, sea salt aerosol and snow on sea ice in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica) during austral winter/spring 2013

Two consecutive cruises in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, in winter/spring 2013 provided the first direct observations of sea salt aerosol (SSA) production from blowing snow above sea ice, thereby validating a model hypothesis to account for winter time SSA maxima in polar regions not explained otherwise. Concentration, size distribution and chemical composition of airborne snow particles, sea salt aerosol and snow on sea ice where measured on board RV Polarstern as well as on the sea ice during ice stations. Funding was provided by NERC projects NE/J023051/1 and NE/J020303/1.

2013年冬春季节，在南极威德尔海开展的两次连续科考航次，首次直接观测到海冰上方吹雪引发的海盐气溶胶（sea salt aerosol, SSA）生成过程，由此验证了一项模型假说——该假说能够解释此前无合理解释的极地冬季海盐气溶胶浓度峰值现象。研究人员在极星号（RV Polarstern）科考船以及冰站的海冰区域，对大气雪粒、海盐气溶胶以及海冰表面积雪的浓度、粒径分布与化学组成进行了测量。本研究获得了英国自然环境研究理事会（NERC）的NE/J023051/1与NE/J020303/1项目资助。