Sea salt aerosol production and bromine release: Role of snow on sea ice

Yang, Xin; Pyle, J. A.; Cox, R. A.

doi:10.1029/2008gl034536

Cited by 246 publications

(483 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…One possible explanation could be a dynamically driven bromine emission mechanism: low tropopause is frequently associated to low pressure cyclone systems and strong surface winds. Recent studies (Yang et al, 2008 andJones et al, 2009 and have provided convincing indications that the production of sea salt aerosol from snow lying on sea ice during blowing snow events (triggered by very strong surface winds) and the subsequent release of bromine, could be an important contribution to the bromine explosion phenomenon in the polar regions (Arctic and Antarctic). In order to investigate whether our analysis reflects this process assumed for bromine explosions, we have compared results of Fig.…”

Section: Polar Tropospheric Bromentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the mechanism for the bromine release during bromine explosions is not completely understood. The surfaces needed for reactions can potentially come from frost flowers (Kaleschke et al, 2004), fresh sea ice (Frieß et al, 2004), sea salt aerosols (Vogt et al, 1996), sea salt deposits (McConnell et al, 1992) or sea salt aerosols produced during blowing snow events (Yang et al, 2008 andJones et al, 2009 and. In any case, the occurrence of such bromine emissions leads to efficient ozone depletion in the polar troposphere (e.g., Wennberg, 1999), as well as interactions with mercury chemistry (Schroeder et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Global observations of tropospheric BrO columns using GOME-2 satellite data

et al. 2011

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Abstract.Measurements from the GOME-2 satellite instrument have been analyzed for tropospheric BrO using a residual technique that combines measured BrO columns and estimates of the stratospheric BrO content from a climatological approach driven by O 3 and NO 2 observations. Comparisons between the GOME-2 results and BrO vertical columns derived from correlative ground-based and SCIAMACHY nadir observations, present a good level of consistency. We show that the adopted technique enables separation of stratospheric and tropospheric fractions of the measured total BrO columns and allows quantitative study of the BrO plumes in polar regions. While some satellite observed plumes of enhanced BrO can be explained by stratospheric descending air, we show that most BrO hotspots are of tropospheric origin, although they are often associated to regions with low tropopause heights as well. Elaborating on simulations using the p-TOMCAT tropospheric chemical transport model, this result is found to be consistent with the mechanism of bromine release through sea salt aerosols production during blowing snow events. No definitive conclusion can be drawn however on the importance of blowing snow sources in comparison to other bromine release mechanisms. Outside polar regions, evidence is provided for a global tropospheric BrO background with column of 1-3 × 10 13 molec cm −2 , consistent with previous estimates.

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Section: Polar Tropospheric Bromentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global observations of tropospheric BrO columns using GOME-2 satellite data

et al. 2011

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“…The properties of the sea ice surface and snow cover provide major controls to the bromine (Br) and ozone (O 3 ) chemistry in the polar atmospheric boundary layer [Rankin et al, 2002;Kaleschke et al, 2004;Jones et al, 2006;Simpson et al, 2007;Yang et al, 2008;Nghiem et al, 2012], but mechanisms are not yet clear. The surface of first-year ice is generally more saline than that of multi-year ice, due to contributions from sea ice brine, flooding seawater and deposited sea salt from nearby leads and polynyas, while the surface of Arctic multi-year ice is washed by flushing in summer and is therefore almost fresh [e.g., Vancoppenolle et al, 2007].…”

Section: Sea Ice Surface Bromine and Tropospheric Ozone Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surprisingly, a more extensive sea ice cover induces more sea salt recorded in Antarctic continental ice cores for present conditions [Iizuka et al, 2008], which is attributed to the highly saline frost flowers [Rankin et al, 2002] or to first-year, snow-covered sea ice. Snow lying on sea ice is a potentially important source of sea salt aerosol, as small snow particles, rich in salts, can be easily lifted into the air though blowingsnow events [Yang et al, 2008].…”

Section: Sea Ice Surface Bromine and Tropospheric Ozone Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of sea ice in global biogeochemical cycles: emerging views and challenges

Vancoppenolle

Meiners

Michel

et al. 2013

Quaternary Science Reviews

215

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International audienceObservations from the last decade suggest an important role of sea ice in the global biogeochemical cycles, promoted by (i) active biological and chemical processes within the sea ice; (ii) fluid and gas exchanges at the sea ice interface through an often permeable sea ice cover; and (iii) tight physical, biological and chemical interactions between the sea ice, the ocean and the atmosphere. Photosynthetic micro-organisms in sea ice thrive in liquid brine inclusions encased in a pure ice matrix, where they find suitable light and nutrient levels. They extend the production season, provide a winter and early spring food source, and contribute to organic carbon export to depth. Under-ice and ice edge phytoplankton blooms occur when ice retreats, favoured by increasing light, stratification, and by the release of material into the water column. In particular, the release of iron - highly concentrated in sea ice - could have large effects in the iron-limited Southern Ocean. The export of inorganic carbon transport by brine sinking below the mixed layer, calcium carbonate precipitation in sea ice, as well as active ice-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes, could play a central role in the marine carbon cycle. Sea ice processes could also significantly contribute to the sulphur cycle through the large production by ice algae of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), the precursor of sulphate aerosols, which as cloud condensation nuclei have a potential cooling effect on the planet. Finally, the sea ice zone supports significant ocean-atmosphere methane (CH₄) fluxes, while saline ice surfaces activate springtime atmospheric bromine chemistry, setting ground for tropospheric ozone depletion events observed near both poles. All these mechanisms are generally known, but neither precisely understood nor quantified at large scales. As polar regions are rapidly changing, understanding the large-scale polar marine biogeochemical processes and their future evolution is of high priority. Earth system models should in this context prove essential, but they currently represent sea ice as biologically and chemically inert. Palaeoclimatic proxies are also relevant, in particular the sea ice proxies, inferring past sea ice conditions from glacial and marine sediment core records and providing analogues for future changes. Being highly constrained by marine biogeochemistry, sea ice proxies would not only contribute to but also benefit from a better understanding of polar marine biogeochemical cycles

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“…Hence frostflower-originated aerosols contain a higher concentration of sea salt than aerosols originating from sea water. (Yang et al, 2008) also suggested the sublimation of salty blowing snow on sea ice as a potential unfractionated sea salt source. It is likely that different sea salt sources dominate and contribute to the sea salt records at different sites (Abram et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A glaciochemical study of the 120 m ice core from Mill Island, East Antarctica

et al. 2017

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Abstract.A 120 m ice core was drilled on Mill Island, East Antarctica (65 • 30 S, 100 • 40 E) during the 2009/2010 Australian Antarctic field season. Contiguous discrete 5 cm samples were measured for hydrogen peroxide, water stable isotopes, and trace ion chemistry. The ice core was annually dated using a combination of chemical species and water stable isotopes. The Mill Island ice core preserves a climate record covering 97 years from 1913 to 2009 CE, with a mean snow accumulation of 1.35 m (ice-equivalent) per year (mIE yr −1 ). This northernmost East Antarctic coastal ice core site displays trace ion concentrations that are generally higher than other Antarctic ice core sites (e.g. mean sodium levels were 254 µEq L −1 ). The trace ion record at Mill Island is characterised by a unique and complex chemistry record with three distinct regimes identified. The trace ion record in regime A displays clear seasonality from 2000 to 2009 CE; regime B displays elevated concentrations with no seasonality from 1934 to 2000 CE; and regime C displays relatively low concentrations with seasonality from 1913 to 1934 CE. Sea salts were compared with instrumental data, including atmospheric models and satellite-derived sea-ice concentration, to investigate influences on the Mill Island ice core record. The mean annual sea salt record does not correlate with wind speed. Instead, sea-ice concentration to the east of Mill Island likely influences the annual mean sea salt record. A mechanism involving formation of frost flowers on sea ice is proposed to explain the extremely high sea salt concentration. The Mill Island ice core records are unexpectedly complex, with strong modulation of the trace chemistry on long timescales.

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Sea salt aerosol production and bromine release: Role of snow on sea ice

Cited by 246 publications

References 28 publications

Global observations of tropospheric BrO columns using GOME-2 satellite data

Global observations of tropospheric BrO columns using GOME-2 satellite data

Role of sea ice in global biogeochemical cycles: emerging views and challenges

A glaciochemical study of the 120 m ice core from Mill Island, East Antarctica

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Sea salt aerosol production and bromine release: Role of snow on sea ice

Cited by 246 publications

References 28 publications

Global observations of tropospheric BrO columns using GOME-2 satellite data

Global observations of tropospheric BrO columns using GOME-2 satellite data

Role of sea ice in global biogeochemical cycles: emerging views and challenges

A glaciochemical study of the 120 m ice core from Mill Island, East Antarctica

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A glaciochemical study of the 120 m ice core from Mill Island, East Antarctica