Phys.org June 21, 2024
Vertical particle distributions are required to study aerosol–cloud interaction over sea ice comprehensively. An international team of researchers (Germany, USA – University of Colorado) presented vertically resolved measurements of aerosol particle number concentrations and sizes using tethered balloons with the data collected during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate expedition in the summer of 2020. Radiosoundings, cloud remote sensing data, and 5-day back trajectories supplemented the analysis of thirty-four profiles of aerosol particle number concentration observed in 2 particle size ranges above 150 nm (N>150). The majority of aerosol profiles showed more particles above the lowest temperature inversion. Long-range transport of pollution increased in a warm, moist air mass. Vertically discontinuous aerosol profiles below decoupled clouds suggested that particles emitted at the surface are not transported to clouds in these conditions. The researchers concluded that the cloud-surface coupling state and free tropospheric particle abundance were crucial when assessing the aerosol budget for Arctic low-level clouds over sea ice… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
The BELUGA tethered balloon system with the particle measuring devices. Credit: Christian Pilz, TROPOS.