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Black Carbon (BC) aerosol is a major climate forcer in the Arctic. Here, we present 15 years (2001–2015) of surface observations of the aerosol absorption coefficient babs (corresponding to Equivalent BC), obtained at the Zeppelin Observatory, Ny Ålesund, Svalbard, coupled with backward transport modeling with Flexpart in order to calculate the Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) for BC. The observed long‐term variability superimposed on a strong annual cycle is studied as a function of large‐scale circulation patterns represented by monthly index values for the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Scandinavian pattern (SCAN). We find a 35% increase of babs values at Zeppelin during the SCAN− phase in the winter half‐year compared to the SCAN+ phase but no significant difference in babs values between the NAO index phases. Both NAO and SCAN induce significant regional variability on the areas of origin of babs, mainly Siberia, Europe, and North America. Plain Language Summary: Here, we investigate the effect of the most important large circulation patterns for the European Arctic, namely the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Scandinavian (SCAN) patterns on the light absorbing carbon aerosol reaching the highly important area experiencing the effects of climate change as found before. We report important first time findings for an extended observation record of 15 years of aerosol light absorbing carbon, which was never been employed before as a continuous long record, and we performed the first rigorous assessment of the impact of large atmospheric circulation patterns like NAO and SCAN on the transport of black carbon aerosol expressed as the climate relevant aerosol absorption coefficient (babs) for the first time. We find a significant 35% increase in babs at Zeppelin during one of the phases of the SCAN. However, a significant regional variability induced by both NAO and SCAN phases is revealed. These findings allow a better quantified estimate of the fate of emissions over the years in the Northern Hemisphere and a better assessment of their influence in the observed BC metrics in the Artic. Key Points: An extended 15 years' observation record of Arctic aerosol light absorbing carbon is employedLarge‐scale circulation patterns appear to induce a long‐term modulation in aerosol absorption coefficient (babs) with regional featuresA 35% increase is found in babs at Zeppelin during the negative Scandinavian pattern (SCAN) phase in the 6‐month cold period compared to the positive SCAN phase [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black Carbon (BC) aerosol is a major climate forcer in the Arctic. Here, we present 15 years (2001–2015) of surface observations of the aerosol absorption coefficient babs (corresponding to Equivalent BC), obtained at the Zeppelin Observatory, Ny Ålesund, Svalbard, coupled with backward transport modeling with Flexpart in order to calculate the Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) for BC. The observed long‐term variability superimposed on a strong annual cycle is studied as a function of large‐scale circulation patterns represented by monthly index values for the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Scandinavian pattern (SCAN). We find a 35% increase of babs values at Zeppelin during the SCAN− phase in the winter half‐year compared to the SCAN+ phase but no significant difference in babs values between the NAO index phases. Both NAO and SCAN induce significant regional variability on the areas of origin of babs, mainly Siberia, Europe, and North America. Plain Language Summary: Here, we investigate the effect of the most important large circulation patterns for the European Arctic, namely the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Scandinavian (SCAN) patterns on the light absorbing carbon aerosol reaching the highly important area experiencing the effects of climate change as found before. We report important first time findings for an extended observation record of 15 years of aerosol light absorbing carbon, which was never been employed before as a continuous long record, and we performed the first rigorous assessment of the impact of large atmospheric circulation patterns like NAO and SCAN on the transport of black carbon aerosol expressed as the climate relevant aerosol absorption coefficient (babs) for the first time. We find a significant 35% increase in babs at Zeppelin during one of the phases of the SCAN. However, a significant regional variability induced by both NAO and SCAN phases is revealed. These findings allow a better quantified estimate of the fate of emissions over the years in the Northern Hemisphere and a better assessment of their influence in the observed BC metrics in the Artic. Key Points: An extended 15 years' observation record of Arctic aerosol light absorbing carbon is employedLarge‐scale circulation patterns appear to induce a long‐term modulation in aerosol absorption coefficient (babs) with regional featuresA 35% increase is found in babs at Zeppelin during the negative Scandinavian pattern (SCAN) phase in the 6‐month cold period compared to the positive SCAN phase [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circum-Arctic region experienced serious fires in 2019 and 2020. Biomass burning is considered a primary source of black carbon (BC) aerosols. BC contributes to Arctic warming and impacts snow/ice melting. However, the impacts of biomass burning on BC in the Arctic during these recent serious fires have not been quantified in detail. In this study, based on numerical simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem), we calculated the contribution ratios of biomass burning to Arctic BC and revealed its transport pathways. Affected by biomass burning emissions, the near-surface BC concentrations over the terrestrial areas within the Arctic Circle were highest in summer, and declined in spring and autumn. Spatially, high-concentration levels of BC were distributed in the Russian central and eastern areas. Biomass burning accounted for 63.72% and 45.18% of the summer BC in the Arctic near-surface and middle troposphere, respectively. In the near-surface, the contributions from local Arctic sources were comparable to those from sources outside the Arctic Circle in summer. In the middle troposphere, contributions from sources outside the Arctic Circle were dominant. In summer, BC originating from biomass burning in Siberia was transported a short distance by southwesterly winds to the central Arctic near-surface, while the enhanced southwesterly winds in the middle troposphere transported BC from Siberia, Alaska and northern Canada to the central Arctic and Greenland. In spring and autumn, most BC originating from biomass burning in the near-surface of Eurasia was transported eastward by westerly winds and then transported northward over the North Pacific Ocean, and the long distance may have resulted in fewer effects on the Arctic. These results highlight the important role of biomass burning in the Arctic environment under a warming climate. [Display omitted] • Affected by biomass burning, the near-surface BC concentrations over the terrestrial areas within the Arctic Circle were highest in summer. • The biomass burning contributions from local sources to Arctic BC in the near-surface in summer were obvious. • BC from biomass burning in the near-surface of Siberia were transported by southwesterly winds to the central Arctic. • The enhanced southwesterly winds in the middle troposphere transported BC from Siberia, Alaska, and northern Canada to the central Arctic and Greenland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]