Sources and composition of organic aerosols in the central Arctic during spring and summer
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Organic aerosols (OA) are a major component of Arctic aerosol mass and influence the region’s radiation budget, yet their sources and physicochemical properties remain largely unknown. We investigate OA sources and climate-relevant characteristics over the central Arctic Ocean in spring and summer, by applying positive matrix factorization to aerosol mass spectrometry data from two ship-based expeditions (2018 and 2020), complemented by total and interstitial aerosol measurements during fog periods. Six distinct OA factors were identified: haze-related OA, Arctic oxygenated OA, two mixed-OA types resembling biomass burning and primary marine OA linked to warm-air intrusions, marine OA, and hydrocarbon-related OA. Seasonal transitions strongly shaped OA composition. Following polar sunrise, highly oxygenated OA, likely formed secondarily from photo-oxidized volatile organic compounds, became dominant. After the polar vortex collapsed in May, episodic spikes in marine OA from the marginal ice zone appeared, alongside a reduced influence from Eurasian anthropogenic sources. These transitions influenced OA oxidation state and related properties including volatility, acidity, and hygroscopicity, highlighting the role of the Arctic spring atmosphere as an active photochemical reactor. Overall, OA was highly oxidized, with particles activated in fog during summer showing even greater oxidation, suggesting that central Arctic OA can be highly cloud active.
Date Issued
2025-10-21
Date Acceptance
2025-09-25
Citation
Environmental Science and Technology, 2025, 59 (41), pp.21924-21940
ISSN
0013-936X
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
21924
End Page
21940
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Science and Technology
Volume
59
Issue
41
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. This publication is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 .
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41074835
Subjects
Arctic haze
aerosol−cloud interactions
central Arctic Ocean
marine organic aerosols
oxygenated organic aerosols
source apportionment
Aerosols
Arctic Regions
Seasons
Air Pollutants
Environmental Monitoring
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2025-10-11