Investigation of morphological and mixing state properties of aerosol and ice crystal residual particles from the Atlantic sector of the Arctic
EMSL Project ID
50504
Abstract
Our current knowledge of aerosol-cloud interactions in the Arctic is inadequate for accurate modeling of northern high-latitude regions. To fill this gap, the field campaign was recently conducted in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, during March 2-30, 2017 as part of the Japanese Arctic research consortium called ArCS (Arctic Challenge for Sustainability). During this field campaign, I collected ambient aerosol particles and ice crystal residuals of the Arctic mixed-phase clouds to mainly study ice nucleation (IN) processes in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic. My preliminary measurements show broad size distribution of ambient particles, and the ice nucleating particle (INP) concentration was 0.32 L-1 at temperatures warmer than -25 degrees C. Interestingly, there exists no notable correlation between INP and ambient aerosol concentrations for my March 2017 dataset. This motivates the need for further research to examine the detailed characterization of collected particles and identify what particulate features trigger IN in the Arctic mixed-phase clouds. I propose to use an array of unique analytical instruments offered at the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) for examining characteristics of ambient aerosol and ice crystal residual particles. My proposed research at EMSL will generate the unique dataset through a combination of transmission electron microscopy and two single-particle microspectroscopy methods (computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersed X-ray and micro-Raman analyses) to provide the fundamental molecular level of understanding of ice-nucleating components. As part of field study, I also collected surface soil samples, containing biomes (e.g., moss). To complement abovementioned off-line analyses, POCs and I will use EMSL's ice nucleation chamber and single particle mass spectrometer (SPLAT II) to characterize in real-time the soil particles that induced nucleation of ice. Through these unique measurements, we will comprehensively obtain detailed information on ice crystal residual surface, inner composition, morphology, phase and internal structure of individual particles. This research will help understand how either morphology and/or composition influence ice nucleation. Such dataset has long been a missing piece in the study area of cloud microphysics and atmospheric chemistry and is of importance to improve atmospheric models of cloud feedbacks in the Arctic and determine their impact on the overall global energy budget. Undertaking well established IN parameterization frameworks, we will produce parameters that are useful for climate modelers. Currently, ice formation processes are poorly represented in the climate models including the U.S. Department of Energy climate change model, such as Energy Exascale Earth System Model - E3SM, and this proposal aims to fill this gap by providing robust and well-characterized INP measurements.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2018-10-21
End Date
2019-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Hiranuma, N. et al., Immersion freezing efficiencies of ambient particles collected from five different regions across latitudes, Abst. Number 401799, 2018 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 10-14 December, 2018, Washington D.C., USA.