Single-particle insights into the influence of biological activity on sea spray aerosol mixing-state Dr. Cassandra J. Gaston March 18, 2014
Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ATOFMS) Particle Inlet Particle Sizing Particle Composition PMT Scattering Lasers (532 nm) Ellipsoidal Mirrors Nd:YAG Laser (266 nm) Detectors Reflectron + ions - ions Gard, E. et al. (1997) Anal. Chem, 69, Inlet Size and Chemistry of Single Particles in real-time
Chemical Fingerprints of Particle Sources and Age Fresh SS HNO 3, N 2 O 5 Reacted SS HCl, ClNO 2 Atmospheric processing of particles from different sources in real-time
Marine Organic Material and Sea Spray Aerosol Bigg, E.K. (2007) Environ. Chem., 4 (3), Facchini, M.C. et al. (2008) Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L17814, doi: /2008GL Hawkins, L.N. & Russell, L.M. (2010) Advances in Meteorology, doi: /2010/ Meskhidze, N. & Nenes, A. (2006) Science, 314 (5804), O’Dowd, C.D. et al. (2004) Nature, 431 (7009), Low Biological ActivityHigh Biological Activity Sea Salt (NaCl) Sea Salt + Organic Material Sea Salt Organic Material Microorganisms Organic enrichment in ejected aerosol compared to seawater due to biological activity How are organics mixed in sea spray? How will this affect water uptake and cloud formation?
Observations of Unique Ocean-Derived Particles Gaston, C.J. et al. (2011) J. Geophys. Res., 116, D18310, doi: /2010JD Shipboard measurements: INDOEX (Indian Ocean) and ACE-Asia (Pacific Ocean) Coastal measurements: CIFEX (N. California Coast)
Evidence for a Biological Source for Mg- type Particles Gaston, C.J. et al. (2011) J. Geophys. Res., 116, D18310, doi: /2010JD Mg-type particles associated with proxies for marine biological activity
Potential Sources for Mg-type Particles Casillas-Ituarte, N.N. (2010) PNAS, 107, Leck, C. & Bigg, E.K. (2005) Tellus, 57, Orellana, M.V. et al. (2011) PNAS, 103, Wells, M.L. (1998) Nature, 391, Mg Sea Salt (NaCl) Mg 2+ Potential role of exopolymeric material on atmospheric chemistry Mg enrichment on particle surface could affect trace gas uptake and cloud formation
Conclusions: How Does Biological Activity Impact Sea Spray Aerosol Chemistry? Ambient data shows sea spray particles enriched in organic and inorganic compounds (Mg-type particles) Mg-type particles provide insight into single-particle diversity of sea spray aerosol influenced by biological activity – Implications for parameterizing sea spray aerosol in climate models
Acknowledgments Joel ThorntonFunding Kim Prather-NSF Thornton Group-California Air Prather Group Resources Board NOAA/PMEL – Tim Bates – Trish Quinn Thank you for listening!