Kaleschke, L.

König-Langlo, Gert

Tian-Kunze, X.

Wagenbach, D.

Weller, Rolf

English

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Frost  flowers  as  the  main  source  of  sea  salt  aerosol  in  winter  at Antarctica: A trajectory study of year-round sea salt aerosol record over 25 years at Neumayer, AntarcticaX. Tian-Kunze, L. Kaleschke,  R. Weller, G. König-Langlo, D. WagenbachAbstractSea ice is the main source of sea salt aerosol instead of open water in coastal Antarctica in winter. Frost flowers which grow on the surface of newly-formed sea ice  are considered to contribute to the generation of sea salt aerosol. However, the exact mechanism of the release of sea salt from  frost  flowers  is  unknown.  Here  we  present  the  results  from meteorological  backward trajectory studies of  sea salt  aerosol samples collected at Neumayer Air Chemistry Observatory, Antarctica since 1983. Cluster  analysis  of  trajectories  shows  that  the  trajectories  arrived  at Neumayer have both Antarctic continental and marine influences. Two major pathways can be seen from trajectory analysis:  one is  from the continent southeasterly from Neumayer, the other from the Weddell sea. Both pathways often carried more sea salt aerosols if they travelled along the  coastline  near  Neumayer  before  arriving,  accompanied  by  wide opening of polynyas near coast. Contact times of an air parcel with sea ice, potential frost flower area (PFF)  [Kaleschke et al., 2004] and open water area were calculated along each trajectory.  The seasonal cycle of sea  salt  concentration   correlates  well  with  that  of  PFF-contact  time, reaching  maximum  in  winter.  Sea  ice  extent,  which  shows  similar seasonal  cycle  as  sea  ice-contact  time,  shifts  its  maximum   several months later than that of sea salt. It implicates that sea salt aerosol flux is not necessarily correlated with ice extent, rather with frost flowers. 

Frost flowers as the main source of sea salt aerosol in winter at Antarctica: A trajectory study of year-round sea salt aerosol record over 25 years at Neumayer, Antarctica

Frost flowers as the main source of sea salt aerosol in winter at Antarctica: A trajectory study of year-round sea salt aerosol record over 25 years at Neumayer, Antarctica

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