Aerosol light absorption in the North Atlantic: trends and seasonal characteristics during the period 1989 to 2003

Junker, C.; Jennings, S. G.; Cachier, H.

doi:10.5194/acp-6-1913-2006

Cited by 33 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Roughly 20% of the air masses arriving at Mace Head per year, originate from continental Europe. They are most frequently observed in May (Huang et al, 2001;Junker et al, 2006). Due to the eastward transport of continental air masses induced by the blocking anticyclone in May 2008 continental European emissions could be measured at the Mace Head station.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of the synoptic and pollution situation over Europe during the EUCAARI-LONGREX field campaign

et al. 2011

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Abstract. In May 2008 the EUCAARI-LONGREX aircraft field campaign was conducted within the EUCAARI intensive observational period. The campaign aimed at studying the distribution and evolution of air mass properties on a continental scale. Airborne aerosol and trace gas measurements were performed aboard the German DLR Falcon 20 and the British FAAM BAe-146 aircraft. This paper outlines the meteorological situation over Europe during May 2008 and the temporal and spatial evolution of predominantly anthropogenic particulate pollution inside the boundary layer and the free troposphere.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of the synoptic and pollution situation over Europe during the EUCAARI-LONGREX field campaign

et al. 2011

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“…The significant reduction in anthropogenic sulfur emissions is likely to explain the better agreement between the NUIG and Savoie-type 2004 data compared to the 1989-1990Savoie et al (2002 data. In summary, an experimental set-up not completely appropriate for the task, high uncertainties associated with the analytical techniques, and the estimated ∼ 80 % reduction in anthropogenic sulfate mass since the Savoie et al (2002) study means that it is simply not justified to claim, these days, that marine air masses arriving at Mace Head are 85-90 % influenced by anthropogenic aerosols.…”

Section: Aerosol Characterisation Under Wind-sector Controlled Samplingmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The EBC value of 50 ng m −3 is the limit value and should not be confused with the actual values. In practise the actual values in sectored marine air masses are typically 10-20 ng m −3 (Cooke et al, 1997;Junker et al, 2006). The mass attenuation coefficient of Aethalometer AE-16 was 16.8 m 2 g −1 .…”

Section: Aerosol Characterisation Under Wind-sector Controlled Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mass attenuation coefficient of Aethalometer AE-16 was 16.8 m 2 g −1 . Junker et al (2006) indicated that thermo-optical method suggested a much higher value (35 m 2 g −1 ) in clean marine sector samples, which would result in an even lower threshold BC value of 24 ng m −3 and the typical clean marine sector values of only 5-10 ng m −3 , which would then be comparable to BC values from the pristine environments (Hansen et al, 1988;Hara et al, 2008;Sciare et al, 2009;Shank et al, 2012). In summary it suggests that EBC values reported for MH (Mace Head) are most likely systematically biased high.…”

Section: Aerosol Characterisation Under Wind-sector Controlled Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head?

et al. 2014

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Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols have been sampled and characterised at the Mace Head north-east (NE) Atlantic atmospheric research station since 1958, with many interesting phenomena being discovered. However, with the range of new discoveries and scientific advances, there has been a range of concomitant criticisms challenging the representativeness of aerosol sampled at the station compared to that of aerosol over the pristine open-ocean. Two recurring criticisms relate to the lack of representativeness due to potentially enhanced coastal sources, possibly leading to artificially high values of aerosol concentrations, and to the influence of long-range transport of anthropogenic or continental aerosol and its potential dominance over, or perturbation of, a natural marine aerosol signal. Here, we review the results of previous experimental studies on marine aerosols over the NE Atlantic and at Mace Head with the aim of evaluating their representativeness relative to that of a pristine openocean aerosol, i.e. with negligible anthropogenic/continental influence. Particular focus is given to submicron organic matter (OM) aerosol. In summary, no correlation was found between OM and black carbon (BC) in marine air conforming to clean-air sampling criteria, either at BC levels of 0-15 or 15-50 ng m −3 , suggesting that OM concentrations, up to observed peak values of 3.8 µg m −3 , are predominantly natural in origin. Sophisticated carbon isotope analysis and aerosol mass spectral finger printing techniques corroborate the conclusion that there is a predominant natural source of OM, with 80 % biogenic source apportionment being observed for general clean-air conditions, rising to ∼ 98 % during specific primary marine organic plumes when peak OM mass concentrations > 3 µg m −3 are observed. Similarly, a maximum contribution of 20 % OM mass coming from non-marine sources was established by dual carbon isotope analysis. Further, analysis of a series of experiments conducted at Mace Head conclude that negligible coastal, surf zone, or tidal effects are discernible in the secondary or primary aerosol mass residing in the submicron size range for sampling heights of 7 m and above. The Mace Head marine-air criteria ensure anthropogenic and coastal effects are sufficiently minimised so as to guarantee a predominant, and sometimes overwhelming, natural marine aerosol contribution to the total aerosol population when the criteria are adhered to.

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“…[2] Since the 1970s, aerosols have been considered as an important atmospheric parameter and operational measurements first began at several locations including the South Pole, Mauna Loa, Point Barrow [McComiskey et al, 2004], Cape Grim and Mace Head [Junker et al, 2006]. Awareness of the impact of aerosols on climate radiative forcing led to the extension of measured variables and to an increase of measurement sites in the 1990s.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term trend analysis of aerosol variables at the high‐alpine site Jungfraujoch

et al. 2007

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[1] This study reports the first long-term trend analysis of aerosol optical measurements at the high-alpine site Jungfraujoch, which started 10.5 years ago. Since the aerosol variables are approximately lognormally distributed, the seasonal Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator were applied as nonparametric methods to detect the long-term trends for each month. The yearly trend was estimated by a least-mean-square fit, and the number of years necessary to detect this trend was calculated. The most significant trend is the increase (4-7% yr À1 ) in light-scattering coefficients during the September to December period. The light absorption and backscattering coefficients and the aerosol number concentration also show a positive trend during this time of the year. The hemispheric backscattering fraction and the scattering exponent calculated with the smaller wavelengths (450 and 550 nm), which relate to the small aerosol size fraction, decrease except during the summer, whereas the scattering exponent calculated with the larger wavelengths (550 and 700 nm) remains constant. Generally, the summer months at the Jungfraujoch, which are strongly influenced by planetary boundary layer air masses, do not show any long-term trend. The trends determined by least-mean-square fits of the scattering and backscattering coefficients, the hemispheric backscattering fractions, and the scattering exponent are significant, and the number of years necessary to detect them is shorter than 10 years. For these variables, the trends and the slopes estimated by the seasonal Kendall test are therefore confirmed by the least-mean-square fit results.

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Aerosol light absorption in the North Atlantic: trends and seasonal characteristics during the period 1989 to 2003

Abstract: Abstract. Aerosol light attenuation on quartz fibre filters has been measured since February 1989 at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research station near Carna, Co. Galway, Ireland, using an Aethalometer.

Cited by 33 publications

References 44 publications

Overview of the synoptic and pollution situation over Europe during the EUCAARI-LONGREX field campaign

Overview of the synoptic and pollution situation over Europe during the EUCAARI-LONGREX field campaign

Do anthropogenic, continental or coastal aerosol sources impact on a marine aerosol signature at Mace Head?

Long‐term trend analysis of aerosol variables at the high‐alpine site Jungfraujoch

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