Abstract. Atmospheric aerosol particles that can nucleate ice are referred to as ice-nucleating particles (INPs). Recent studies have confirmed that aerosol particles emitted by the oceans can act as INPs. This very relevant information can be included in climate and weather models to predict the formation of ice in clouds, given that most of them do not consider oceans as a source of INPs. Very few studies that sample INPs have been carried out in tropical latitudes, and there is a need to evaluate their availability to understand the potential role that marine aerosol may play in the hydrological cycle of tropical regions. This study presents results from the first measurements obtained during a field campaign conducted in the tropical village of Sisal, located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico in January–February 2017, and one of the few data sets currently available at such latitudes (i.e., 21∘ N). Aerosol particles sampled in Sisal are shown to be very efficient INPs in the immersion freezing mode, with onset freezing temperatures in some cases as high as −3 ∘C, similarly to the onset temperature from Pseudomonas syringae. The results show that the INP concentration in Sisal was higher than at other locations sampled with the same type of INP counter. Air masses arriving in Sisal after the passage of cold fronts have surprisingly higher INP concentrations than the campaign average, despite their lower total aerosol concentration. The high concentrations of INPs at warmer ice nucleation temperatures (T>-15 ∘C) and the supermicron size of the INPs suggest that biological particles may have been a significant contributor to the INP population in Sisal during this study. However, our observations also suggest that at temperatures ranging between −20 and −30 ∘C mineral dust particles are the likely source of the measured INPs.

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RESUMENSe instaló un Monitor de Especiación Química de Aerosoles (ACSM, por sus siglas en inglés; Aerodyne Inc.) en un sitio al norte de la Ciudad de México del 13 de noviembre de 2013 al 30 de abril de 2014, con el objetivo de investigar la variabilidad estacional de la composición química del aerosol menor a 1 µm. El ACSM determina la concentración en masa, en tiempo real, de las especies más importantes (nitrato, sulfato, amonio, cloruro y compuestos orgánicos) del material particulado no refractario menor a 1 µm (NR-PM 1 ), con una resolución temporal de 30 min. Durante dicho periodo también se midieron variables meteorológicas (temperatura, humedad relativa, y dirección y velocidad del viento), y las concentraciones de carbono negro, PM 1 , PM 2.5 , CO, SO 2 , NO, NO 2 y O 3 . La concentración en masa de NR-PM 1 sumada a la concentración del carbono negro (que debe ser cercana a la concentración total de PM 1 ) tuvo una buena correlación con la concentración medida con un equipo de microbalanza de elemento oscilatorio, lo cual indica la buena calidad de los datos del ACSM. En promedio, la composición del aerosol, así como su variabilidad diurna fueron similares a lo encontrado en campañas anteriores en las que se usó instrumentación similar (MCMA-2003 y MILAGRO). Sin embargo, el aerosol mostró un carácter ácido durante noviembre y diciembre, probablemente debido a una mayor humedad relativa, menor temperatura, y vientos más frecuentes del noroeste (donde se encuentra el complejo industrial Tula) durante este periodo. Una baja concentración de amoniaco en la fase gas (NH 3 ) también puede tener un efecto importante en la acidez observada. Estos resultados sugieren un cambio estacional en la química del aerosol, el cual debe verificarse llevando a cabo más estudios a largo plazo. ABSTRACTAn Aerodyne Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM; Aerodyne Inc.) was deployed at a site north of Mexico City from November 13, 2013 to April 30, 2014 to investigate the seasonal variability of the chemical composition of submicron particles. The ACSM provides real time information on mass concentration of the non-refractory main species (nitrate, sulfate, ammonium, chloride and organic compounds) in particulate matter less than 1 μm (NR-PM 1 ) with a 30-min time resolution. Meteorological variables (temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction), as well as concentrations of black carbon, PM 1 , PM 2.5 , CO, SO 2 , NO, NO 2 , and O 3 , were also measured. The total NR-PM 1 mass concentrations plus black carbon (which must be close to the PM 1 total mass) showed a good correlation with PM 1 mass concentration measured with a Tapered Element Oscillating Micro-Balance, an indication of the soundness of the ACSM data. In average, the composition of the aerosol as well as its diurnal variability were similar to observations in previous studies using 244 F. Guerrero et al. similar instruments (MCMA-2003 and MILAGRO). However, it was observed that the aerosol was persistently acidic during November and December p...