Annual cycle observations of aerosols capable of ice formation in central Arctic clouds

Jessie M. Creamean (), Kevin Barry, Thomas C. J. Hill, Carson Hume, Paul J. DeMott, Matthew D. Shupe, Sandro Dahlke, Sascha Willmes, Julia Schmale, Ivo Beck, Clara J. M. Hoppe, Allison Fong, Emelia Chamberlain, Jeff Bowman, Randall Scharien and Ola Persson
Additional contact information
Jessie M. Creamean: Colorado State University
Kevin Barry: Colorado State University
Thomas C. J. Hill: Colorado State University
Carson Hume: Colorado State University
Paul J. DeMott: Colorado State University
Matthew D. Shupe: University of Colorado
Sandro Dahlke: Climate Sciences Division, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Sascha Willmes: Universität Trier
Julia Schmale: Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Ivo Beck: Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Clara J. M. Hoppe: Biosciences Division, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Allison Fong: Biosciences Division, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Emelia Chamberlain: University of California
Jeff Bowman: University of California
Randall Scharien: University of Victoria
Ola Persson: University of Colorado

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, prompting glacial melt, permafrost thaw, and sea ice decline. These severe consequences induce feedbacks that contribute to amplified warming, affecting weather and climate globally. Aerosols and clouds play a critical role in regulating radiation reaching the Arctic surface. However, the magnitude of their effects is not adequately quantified, especially in the central Arctic where they impact the energy balance over the sea ice. Specifically, aerosols called ice nucleating particles (INPs) remain understudied yet are necessary for cloud ice production and subsequent changes in cloud lifetime, radiative effects, and precipitation. Here, we report observations of INPs in the central Arctic over a full year, spanning the entire sea ice growth and decline cycle. Further, these observations are size-resolved, affording valuable information on INP sources. Our results reveal a strong seasonality of INPs, with lower concentrations in the winter and spring controlled by transport from lower latitudes, to enhanced concentrations of INPs during the summer melt, likely from marine biological production in local open waters. This comprehensive characterization of INPs will ultimately help inform cloud parameterizations in models of all scales.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31182-x

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