Annual cycle observations of aerosols capable of ice formation in central Arctic clouds

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31182-x
• Publication Date: 2022-06-20T17:02:57Z
• Authors: Jessie M. Creamean; Kevin Barry; Thomas C. J. Hill; Carson Hume; Paul J. DeMott; Matthew D. Shupe; Sandro Dahlke; Sascha Willmes; Julia Schmale; Ivo Beck; Clara J. M. Hoppe; Allison Fong; Emelia Chamberlain; Jeff Bowman; Randall Scharien; Ola Persson
• Keywords: Earth's energy budget; Ice-albedo feedback

The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, prompting glacial melt, permafrost thaw, and sea ice decline. These severe consequences induce feedbacks that contribute to amplified warming, affecting weather climate globally. Aerosols clouds play a critical role in regulating radiation reaching the surface. However, magnitude of their effects not adequately quantified, especially central where they impact energy balance over ice. Specifically, aerosols called nucleating particles (INPs) remain understudied yet are necessary for cloud production subsequent changes lifetime, radiative effects, precipitation. Here, we report observations INPs full year, spanning entire growth decline cycle. Further, these size-resolved, affording valuable information INP sources. Our results reveal strong seasonality INPs, with lower concentrations winter spring controlled by transport from latitudes, enhanced during summer likely marine biological local open waters. This comprehensive characterization will ultimately help inform parameterizations models all scales.