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research article

Pan-Arctic methanesulfonic acid aerosol: source regions, atmospheric drivers, and future projections

Pernov, Jakob Boyd  
•
Harris, Eliza
•
Volpi, Michele  
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July 13, 2024
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science

Natural aerosols are an important, yet understudied, part of the Arctic climate system. Natural marine biogenic aerosol components (e.g., methanesulfonic acid, MSA) are becoming increasingly important due to changing environmental conditions. In this study, we combine in situ aerosol observations with atmospheric transport modeling and meteorological reanalysis data in a data-driven framework with the aim to (1) identify the seasonal cycles and source regions of MSA, (2) elucidate the relationships between MSA and atmospheric variables, and (3) project the response of MSA based on trends extrapolated from reanalysis variables and determine which variables are contributing to these projected changes. We have identified the main source areas of MSA to be the Atlantic and Pacific sectors of the Arctic. Using gradient-boosted trees, we were able to explain 84% of the variance and find that the most important variables for MSA are indirectly related to either the gas- or aqueous-phase oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS): shortwave and longwave downwelling radiation, temperature, and low cloud cover. We project MSA to undergo a seasonal shift, with non-monotonic decreases in April/May and increases in June-September, over the next 50 years. Different variables in different months are driving these changes, highlighting the complexity of influences on this natural aerosol component. Although the response of MSA due to changing oceanic variables (sea surface temperature, DMS emissions, and sea ice) and precipitation remains to be seen, here we are able to show that MSA will likely undergo a seasonal shift solely due to changes in atmospheric variables.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1038/s41612-024-00712-3
Author(s)
Pernov, Jakob Boyd  

EPFL

Harris, Eliza
Volpi, Michele  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Baumgartner, Tamara
Hohermuth, Benjamin
Henne, Stephan
Aeberhard, William H.
Becagli, Silvia
Quinn, Patricia K.
Traversi, Rita
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Date Issued

2024-07-13

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Published in
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Volume

7

Issue

1

Article Number

166

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
EERL  
FunderFunding(s)Grant NumberGrant URL

Swiss Data Science Center

ArcticNAP

C20-01

Available on Infoscience
July 23, 2024
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/240423
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