Observations of atmospheric aerosol particles over the Antarctic Ocean by ocean research vessels

Abstract

To investigate spatial and temporal variation of number-size distribution of atmospheric aerosol particles in the Antarctic Ocean, atmospheric observations were conducted on research vessels: Hakuho-maru, Tangaroa, and Umitaka-maru. Concentrations of ionic constituents in aerosols and precursor gases (SO_2 and NH_3) were also measured during the cruises. Concentrations of nucleation mode particles (<20 nm in diameter) were often high under the conditions of very low number concentrations of preexisting aerosol particles larger than 0.1 μm in diameter, when the ocean was calm. Nucleation mode particles did not appear when concentrations of preexisting aerosols were high. Major ionic concentrations of aerosols at Lutzow-Holmbukta observed by Umitaka-maru in January 2005 were almost the same as average values of those in January at Syowa Station. Especially for short-term increasing events in condensation nucleus concentration, large differences were found for number size-distributions of nucleation and Aitken mode particles between Syowa Station and Umitaka-maru in Lutzow-Holmbukta.