Evaluation of Ice Nucleating Particles and Their Sources in the Central Arctic during MOSAiC
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States); Colorado State University
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth, causing glaciers to melt, frozen ground to thaw, and the Arctic Ocean's ice to shrink. These consequential changes induce feedback loops that exacerbate warming and affect weather and climate worldwide. Microscopic airborne particles called "aerosols" and clouds in the sky are crucial for regulating heat and light reaching the Arctic surface. However, the magnitude of their effects is not adequately quantified, especially in the central Arctic, where they impact temperatures directly over the sea ice. Unique aerosols called "ice nucleating particles" (INPs), which play a significant role in cloud ice production, remain understudied. Understanding how ice forms in clouds is critical in the Arctic, as it affects cloud lifespan, interactions with heat and light, and precipitation. In this project, we conducted the first-ever observations of INPs in the middle of the Arctic over a whole year, covering the entire period when sea ice grows and melts. Furthermore, these are the first observations of INPs in different size ranges throughout the year, anywhere in the world. We use DNA sequencing to evaluate the presence of various types of microorganisms, while INP measurements on seawater, sea ice, snow, and meltwater samples help assess potential local Arctic sources of INPs. The results from this work are currently being used to improve the accuracy of Arctic cloud formation in various models.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0019745
- OSTI ID:
- 1997991
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-CSU--0019745-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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