Svalbard’s Mesoscale Environmental Factor Impact on the Wind Field

The mesoscale circulation along the west shore of Spitsbergen is largely controlled by the difference in temperature between the glaciers and surface sea temperatures. We describe how the mesoscale effect influences the atmospheric circulation patterns. The conducted research was based on reanalysis data, model data, and atmospheric measurements; wind data from different sources and scales were compared and analysed. We discuss the situations wherein the mesoscale effect can be identified by analysing the wind direction or its velocity. This study shows the role of the mesoscale effect on the wind in the Svalbard region. Different situations according to the atmospheric patterns taken from a catalogue of 21 circulation types for each day created for Svalbard are analysed and compared with cases of land-sea breeze type circulation for the 20-year period between 1994 and 2013. It is proved that even if it is not possible to distinguish this mesoscale effect based on the difference between local and large-scale wind directions, this factor can be observed by studying the wind speeds. It is claimed that as long as there are glaciers on Spitsbergen, there will be a mesoscale land-sea breeze type circulation controlled by the difference in air temperature over land and water

Comparison of meteorological conditions in Svalbard fjords: Hornsund and Kongsfjorden

This paper presents the results of a comparison of basic meteorological parameters in two Arctic fjords situated on the west coast of Spitsbergen, the main island of the Svalbard archipelago. Air temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity and cloud cover from the period 2005 to 2016 are described and compared with previous (from 1975) analyses of meteorological conditions in the investigated region. Such a choice of dates coincides with the time the GAME project measurements were carried out. The main goal of this study was to compare meteorological conditions in two fjords: Hornsund and Kongsfjorden, during the time of rapid climate changes. The results are collated with research results available in literature from previous years. We discovered that in the investigated period the climate of the Hornsund region is more oceanic than in Kongsfjorden. The stable level of the difference in climate elements is manifested and is evident mainly through greater amplitudes in air temperatures in Kongsfjorden, and in stronger winds in Hornsund

Aerosol physical properties in Spitsbergen's fjords: Hornsund and Kongsfjorden during AREX campaigns in 2014 and 2015

We present results of measurements of aerosol physical properties conducted on board of r/v Oceania during two cruises to the Spitsbergen region in 2014 (AREX 2014) and 2015 (AREX 2015). Measurements of aerosol size distribution, aerosol scattering coefficient and black carbon concentrations were made in two different Spitsbergen fjords: Hornsund and Kongsfjorden. The aerosol size distribution was measured in the size range from 0.09 μm to 47 μm using two aerosol size distribution spectrometers and a standard condensation particle counter. For the scattering coefficient an integrating nephelometer was used. Black carbon concentration was measured by an aethalometer. Temporal variabilities in physical properties of aerosol observed during the AREX 2014 and AREX 2015 campaigns were much higher than the differences between both fjords. The basic factors influencing aerosol conditions were advection and local generation of marine aerosol. In 2015 an episode of smoke advection was observed in both fjords causing an increase in the mean black carbon concentration from 7–12 ng m−3 to about 60 ng m−3, and an aerosol scattering coefficient at 550 nm from 2–4 Mm−1 to 12–17 Mm−1. Moreover, under certain conditions statistically significant gradients in aerosol optical properties were observed along the fjord axis reflecting an impact of mountains surrounding the fjords

Studies of vertical coarse aerosol fluxes in the boundary layer over the Baltic Sea* This work was supported through the National Science Centre grant NN 306315536; support for this study was also provided by the project ‘Satellite Monitoring of the Baltic Sea Environment – SatBałtyk’ funded by European Union through European Regional Development Fund contract No. POIG 01.01.02-22-011/09.

The results of studies of the vertical gradient of aerosol concentration measurements made during cruises of r/v ‘Oceania’ between 2008 and 2012 are presented. Using the results from those experiments, sea spray emission fluxes were calculated for all particles of sizes in the range from 0.5 μm to 8 μm, as well as for particles of sizes from fifteen channels of 0.5 μm width. The information obtained was further used to calculate the Sea Salt Generation Function (SSGF) for the Baltic Sea depending on the wind speed and the aerosol size distribution

MARINE AEROSOL FLUXES DETERMINED BY SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENTS OF EDDY COVARIANCE AND GRADIENT METHOD

<p>In this paper there are presented results of the aerosol fluxes measurements in near water boundary layer. Measurements were conducted using two micrometeorological methods in the southern Baltic Sea region. The preliminary results of comparison two methods are discus. The eddy covariance (EC) method is shown as a method for the calibration of the gradient method (GM). The reason for proceeding with such calibration is to show that the GM, which is an indirect measuring method, is comparable with a direct method such as the EC. In the EC measurements the condensation particle counter (CPC, measuring range 0.05 – 3 µm with 1 Hz counting speed) and the Research Anemometer (50 Hz measurement speed) were used. For the GM, a Classical Scattering Aerosol Spectrometer was applied (measuring range from 0.5 to 47 µm diameter, within 36 measuring channels). Data from scientific cruises of the r/v Oceania in the southern Baltic Sea between 2008 and 2011 were analyzed.</p

Impact of wild forest fires in Eastern Europe on aerosol composition and particle optical properties

In this paper the authors discuss the changes of aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the region of eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea due to wild fire episodes which occurred in the area of Belarus and Ukraine in 2002. The authors discuss how the biomass burning aerosols were advected over the Baltic area and changed the composition of aerosol ensemble for a period of several summer weeks. The air pressure situation and slow wind speeds also facilitated the development of such conditions. As a consequence very high AOD levels were recorded, by an order of 3–4 higher versus normal conditions and they significantly increased the annual averages. On particular days of August 2002 the AOD values reached a level of over 0.7. On these days fine particles fully dominated the entire ensemble of aerosol particles. They were either sulfates or smoke particles. Such situation was unique over a period of many years and it had its serious consequences for the region and especially for the Baltic Sea

Aerosol Optical Depth Measured at Different Coastal Boundary Layers and Its Links with Synoptic-Scale Features

This paper presents the results of measurements of aerosol optical properties which were made between 2006 and 2008 within the framework of various international projects in different locations such as Spitsbergen, northern Norway and Crete. The investigations were made under different baric topography conditions and in various seasons of the year which facilitated the investigations of spatial and temporal dependencies between upper troposphere mass state and spectral variations of aerosol properties. The results of aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements showed significant episodes during which jet stream events (300 hPa surface) over the Arctic were present. The mean spectral characteristics of AOD from “before” and “after” the event differ by 0.14 versus the “during” phase of the episode. The macrometeorological relative topography charts shown also the relationships between the 500 hPa, close sea-level pressure SLP (1,000 hPa) charts surfaces and the attenuation caused by aerosol scattering and absorption in vertical profiles during the afternoon hours

Observations of new particle formation events in the south-eastern Baltic Sea

New particle formation and growth were observed at a coastal site (Preila station, Lithuania) during 1997 and 2000-2002. The total amountof data analysed covers 291 one-day periods, 45 (15%) of which were long-term, new particle formation days. Short-term nucleationevents (from a few minutes to one hour) and long-term events (from one to eight hours) were identified. The mean particlegrowth rate, condensation sink and condensable vapour source rate during nucleation events were 3.9 nm h^-1, 1.45 × 10^-3 cm^-3 s^-1 and 7.5 × 10⁴ cm^-3 s^-1 respectively.The average formation rate <i>J</i>₁₀ was 0.4 cm^-3 s^-1. The nucleation events were accompaniedmainly by air masses transported from the north (43%) and north-west (19%). Meteorological parameters and trace gas (O₃, SO₂,NO₂) concentrations were also analysed. It was found that nucleation events are related to high levels of solar radiation

Aerosol Optical Depth variations due to local breeze circulation in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen

This paper presents the results of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) studies which took place in Ny-Ålesund in the spring of 2014 during the iAREA campaign. The measurements were taken using Microtops II hand-held sunphotometers along the Kongsfjorden, on a path leading from the research village to the fjord opening. Local breeze circulation was observed during the measurement campaign which resulted in an evident increase of AOD along the measurement profile towards the open sea. Using the observed AOD, changes over the open sea have been calculated and the location of the breeze front has been determined