Interannual variations of light‐absorbing particles in snow on Arctic sea ice. Issue 21 (10th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Doherty, Sarah J.; Steele, Michael; Rigor, Ignatius; Warren, Stephen G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 120:Issue 21(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 11, 391
• Page End: 11, 400
• Publication Date: 2015-11-10
• Subjects: black carbon -- Arctic -- snow -- trend -- variability; Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1002/2015JD024018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-897X

Abstract

Abstract: Samples of snow on sea ice were collected in springtime of the 6 years 2008–2013 in the region between Greenland, Ellesmere Island, and the North Pole (82°N –89°N, 0°W–100°W). The meltwater was passed through filters, whose spectral absorption was then measured to determine the separate contributions by black carbon (BC) and other light‐absorbing impurities. The median mixing ratio of BC across all years' samples was 4 ± 3 ng g −1, and the median fraction of absorption due to non‐BC absorbers was 36 ± 11%. Variances represent both spatial and interannual variability; there was no interannual trend in either variable. The absorption Ångström exponent, however, decreased with latitude, suggesting a transition from dominance by biomass‐burning sources in the south to an increased influence by fossil‐fuel‐burning sources in the north, consistent with earlier measurements of snow in Svalbard and at the North Pole. Key Points: Sea ice north of Greenland has BC mixing ratios of typically 3–6 ng/g Mixing ratios of BC in sea ice north of Greenland vary but show no trend from 2008 to 2013 Interannual variations show some relationship to air mass source region