SAANSA

Summertime Aerosol across North Slope of Alaska

12 August 2015 - 20 September 2016

Lead Scientist: Kerri Pratt

Observatory: AMF , OLI , NSA

Atmospheric aerosols have significant climate impacts in the Arctic during summer months due to absorption and scattering of incoming solar radiation, as well as influencing cloud formation. This collaborative ARM field campaign with the University of Michigan and Baylor University will focus on characterization of the concentrations, chemistry, and sources of summertime aerosols impacting the Oliktok Point and Barrow ARM sites on the North Slope of Alaska during summer 2015 and 2016. In particular, the project will greatly improve the characterization and differentiation of local, regional, and long-range transported summertime aerosols on the NSA. Uniquely, the specific project deliverables will include: the chemistry and number concentrations of particles individually identified as being emitted from Arctic oil and gas extraction activities, as well as apportioned black carbon, organic carbon, sulfate, and nitrate mass concentrations, at Oliktok Point and Barrow, AK. Specific techniques to be used include: aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry for single-particle chemistry and source identification, an aethalometer for on-line black carbon mass concentrations, thermo-optical elemental carbon/organic carbon analysis, ion chromatography analysis for inorganic ions, particulate radiocarbon analysis for differentiation between fossil and modern carbon, and particulate organic molecular tracer analysis. These measurements will leverage the ARM extended mobile facility deployment starting in Fall 2013. Operational dates: Barrow 2015: 2015.08.12 -- 2015.09.17 Oliktok 2015: 2015.08.12 -- 2015.09.17 Barrow 2016: 2016.08.12 -- 2016.09.17 Oliktok 2016: 2016.08.15 -- 2016.09.20