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Physical and Optical/Radiative Properties of Arctic Aerosols: Potential Effects on Arctic ClimateWe have determined the abundance of light-scattering sulfuric acid (H2SO4/H2O) and light-absorbing black carbon aerosol (BCA) in Spring 1992 in the Arctic atmosphere by airborne in situ sampling with impactors, and measured particle sizes and morphologies by scanning electron microscopy. The mass of BCA in the Arctic troposphere is one percent of the total aerosol, reduced to one part in 104 in the stratosphere. A Mie algorithm permits the calculation of the optical properties of the various aerosol components, and an algorithm developed by Ackerman and Toon and modified to serve our needs lets us calculate the optical effects of the black carbon aerosol that is mixed internally with the sulfuric acid aerosol. It follows that the effect of internally-mixed BCA on the aerosol scattering and absorption properties depends on its location within the droplet. BCA concentrated near the droplet surface has a greater effect on absorption of solar radiation than does the same amount of BCA located near its center. Single scatter albedos of the combined system are omega(sub 0)=1.0 in the post-Pinatubo Arctic stratosphere, and as low as 0.94 in the troposphere. The aerosol has the potential to regionally warm the Arctic earth-atmosphere system, because of the high surface albedo of the snow-covered Arctic.
Document ID
20020008209
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pueschel, R. F.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Kinne, S. A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Gore, Warren J.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1994
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: World Climate Research Programme Conference
Location: Goeteborg
Country: Sweden
Start Date: November 7, 1994
End Date: November 10, 1994
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 464-14-16
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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