Title: Summertime Carbonaceous Aerosol in Interior Versus Coastal Northern Alaska

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Department of Earth System Science University of California Irvine CA USA
  2. Department of Environmental Science Baylor University Waco TX USA
  3. Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USA
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Abstract Rapid warming is likely increasing primary production and wildfire occurrence in the Arctic. Projected changes in carbonaceous aerosols during the summer will impact atmospheric chemistry and climate, but our understanding of these processes is limited by sparse observations. Here, we characterize carbonaceous aerosol in Alaska, USA: Toolik Field Station in the Interior and the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement facility at Utqiaġvik on the Arctic coast, during the summers of 2022 and 2023. We estimated PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations using laser light scattering (PurpleAir sensors) and examined total carbon (TC) and its organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) fractions in total suspended particles (TSP). We investigated the dominant sources of carbonaceous aerosol using air mass backward‐trajectories from the NOAA HYSPLIT model and radiocarbon source apportionment of TC. TC concentrations were about twice as high in the Interior compared to the coast, with contemporary sources dominating at both Toolik (95%–99%) and Utqiaġvik (86%–89%) over minor contributions from fossil sources. Elevated PM, TC, OC, and EC concentrations coincided with major boreal forest fire activity in North America that brought smoke to the region. The radiocarbon signature of EC measured at Toolik during these wildfire events indicated that over 90% of the EC came from contemporary sources. Our measurements demonstrate the potential for Arctic aerosol concentrations to respond significantly to climate warming‐induced changes to the landscape and emphasize the need for continuous atmospheric monitoring to advance our understanding of this rapidly changing environment.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
2563449
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 130; ISSN 2169-897X
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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