Search

Measurement of pCO2 in highly dynamic coastal zones such as the southern Baltic Sea presents many challenges. In this study, we designed a system to measure pCO2 and then validated it in a series of laboratory and seagoing tests. The fast response time of the system was shown to provide a better resolution of CO2 system gradients. In the open waters of the Baltic Sea, the accuracy of the pCO2 measurements (±1.3 µatm) met the requirements of the ICOS (±2.0 µatm). In the coastal zone, there was less consistency between pCO2, DIC and pH measurements, suggesting the need to redefine the quality assurance and control requirements for the measurement of pCO2 in dynamic regions.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution is one of the most important problems of the Earth. They have been found in all the natural environments, including oceans and the atmosphere. In this study, the concentrations of both atmospheric and marine MPs were measured over the Baltic along a research cruise that started in the Gdansk harbour, till the Gotland island, and the way back. A deposition box (based on a combination of active/passive sampling) was used to collect airborne MPs while, marine MPs concentrations were investigated during the cruise using a dedicated net. Ancillary data were obtained using a combination of particle counters (OPC, LAS and CPC), Aethalometer (AE33 Magee Scientific), spectrofluorometer (sea surface samples, Varian Cary Eclipse), and meteorological sensors. Results showed airborne microplastics average concentrations higher in the Gdansk harbour (161 ± 75 m-3) compared to the open Baltic Sea and to the Gotland island (24 ± 9 and 45 ± 20 m-3). These latter values are closer to the ones measured in the sea (79 ± 18 m-3). The MPs composition was investigated using μ-Raman (for the airborne ones) and FTIR (for marine ones); similar results (e.g. polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalates, polyurethane, polystyrene) were found in the two environmental compartments. The concentrations and similar composition in air and sea suggested a linkage between the two compartments. For this purpose, the atmospheric MPs' equivalent aerodynamic diameter was calculated (28 ± 3 μm) first showing the capability of atmospheric MPs to remain suspended in the air. At the same time, the computed turnover times (0.3-90 h; depending on MPs size) limited the transport distance range. The estimated MPs sea emission fluxes (4-18 ∗ 106 μm3 m-2 s-1 range) finally showed the contemporary presence of atmospheric transport together with a continuous emission from the sea surface enabling a grasshopper long-range transport of microplastics across the sea.

This study presents the vertical profiles of aerosol optical and microphysical properties obtained from cable car and ground-based measurements in the Silesian Beskids, Poland. The data were collected during a measurement campaign between 25 February and March 11, 2018. An AE-51 micro-aethalometer and PMS7003 and OPC-N2 optical particle counters were mounted on the cable car and used to measure the profiles of equivalent of black carbon (eBC) concentration and aerosol size distribution. In situ measurements of the optical properties of the aerosols were obtained using an AE-31 aethalometer and photoacoustic devices. A prototype lidar was used to determine the planetary boundary layer (PBL) height and the aerosol layers. In the middle phase of the study (1–6 March 2018), significant night-time temperature inversions were observed. During the inversion period, the parameters describing the amount of aerosols in the air increased significantly. The concentration of eBC exceeded the level of 15 μg/m3 several times, with an average level of 5.39 ± 4.42 μg/m3. Conversely, the results obtained in the first and third phases of the experiment were at the level of the aerosol background, being 1.45 ± 0.88 μg/m3 and 0.90 ± 0.95 μg/m3, respectively. Significant differences were also observed in the vertical profiles of PM10 mass and eBC concentration. In the middle phase of the study, the profiles showed a significant reduction in the concentration of pollutants with height, while in the first and third phases, there were slight variations with height.

Studies of aerosol particle number concentration (PNC) level over open sea in the southern and south-eastern Baltic Sea regions were performed during five cruises (2005–2006, 2008–2010) by RV Oceania and at the coastal Preila station (Lithuania). A comparative analysis was performed of aerosol PNC variation at open sea versus measurements taken at the coastal site under various conditions (breaking waves, fog events, NPF), considering transport of forest fire products and advection of different air mass types to the investigation sites. It was found that the average PNC over the open sea (3000–4000 cm− 3) was generally higher than at the coastal site (2000–3000 cm− 3). Breaking waves caused by the latitudinal or longitudinal long-lasting (3–4 days) constant-direction wind under stormy conditions had the strongest effect on the aerosol PNC over the Baltic Sea. The aerosol PNC in the marine boundary layer (MBL) of the south-eastern Baltic Sea during fog did not depend on the air mass type over open sea, in contrast to the coastal site, that is, the average PNC level (3000–4000 cm− 3) in the MBL, which could be constantly affected by specific environmental factors as a source of condensation nuclei for the fog formation. Short-term increases of aerosol PNC in the MBL (5000–10,000 cm− 3) were higher than in the same periods of the time scale at the coastal site (3000–6000 cm− 3) during NPF events, and therefore the open sea environment may facilitate a more favourable condition for the NPF, that is, exhaust and biogenic emissions from ships and the marine environment.

The subject of this study is to use in-situ measurements, passive and active remote sensing observations, as well as numerical simulations to describe the temporal variability of aerosol single-scattering properties such as aerosol optical depth (AOD), single scattering albedo (SSA), and aerosol direct shortwave forcing at the Earth׳s surface during the transport of biomass burning (BB) aerosols from Canada to Europe between 2nd and 7th of July 2013. According to the MODIS observations made in the IR spectrum, an area of over 200,000 km 2 was affected by the BB during the episode. Regarding the AERONET data in Canada, results show a significant variability of AOD within the whole period with a special enhancement between 6th and 9th July, when AOD anomaly led to an increase up to 1.5 (500 nm). Low-values of SSA reported at Yellowknife Aurora and Waskesiu are likely to be due to flaming combustion from closely located source areas. MODIS and CALIPSO observations, as well as numerical simulations of the NAAPS model, show transport of smoke particles over the Northern Atlantic Ocean and further eastward. Indeed, the event was observed at a different times and locations over Europe between 2nd and 14th July. During that period a number of AERONET stations, mainly located close to the Baltic Sea reported AOD at 500 nm of above 1. Compared to Canada the SSA in Europe was higher, indicating particle transformation over the Atlantic Ocean. Lidar observations in the northern Poland showed aerosol layers occurring between PBL height and tropopause with a significant (up to 55%) contribution to the total AOD. However, lidar measurements in Central Poland (Warsaw and Belsk) indicate that aerosols were confined mainly in the middle and lower troposphere. A diurnal mean aerosol direct radiative forcing estimated at the ground level during the event was below −30 W/m 2 with radiative forcing efficiency between −60 and −100 W/m 2 /τ 500. The strongest efficiency was found at the Strzyzow station, which was caused by further air mass transformation during its transport over Poland.

This paper presents the results of measurements of aerosol physical and chemical properties during iAREA2014 campaign that took place on Svalbard between 15th of Mar and 4th of May 2014. With respect to field area, the experiment consisted of two sites: NyeAlesund (78�550N, 11�560E) and Longyearbyen (78�130N, 15�330E) with further integration of Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) station in Hornsund (77�000N, 15�330E). The subject of this study is to investigate the inesitu, passive and active remote sensing observations as well as numerical simulations to describe the temporal variability of aerosol singleescattering properties during spring season on Spitsbergen. The retrieval of the data indicates several event days with enhanced singleescattering properties due to the existence of sulphate and additional seaesalt load in the atmosphere which is possibly caused by relatively high wind speed. Optical results were confirmed by numerical simulations made by the GEMeAQ model and by chemical observations that indicated up to 45% contribution of the seaesalt to a PM10 total aerosol mass concentration. An agreement between the in-situ optical and microphysical properties was found, namely: the positive correlation between aerosol scattering coefficient measured by the nephelometer and effective radius obtained from laser aerosol spectrometer as well as negative correlation between aerosol scattering coefficient and the Angstrom exponent indicated that slightly larger particles dominated during special events. The inesitu surface observations do not show any significant enhancement of the absorption coefficient as well as the black carbon concentration which might occur during spring. All of extensive singleescattering properties indicate a diurnal cycle in Longyearbyen, where 21:00e5:00 data stays at the background level, however increasing during the day by the factor of 3e4. It is considered to be highly connected with local emissions originating in combustion, traffic and harbour activities. On the other hand, no daily fluctuations in NyeAlesund are observed. Mean values in NyeAlesund are equal to 8.2, 0.8 Mm�1 and 103 ng/m3 for scattering, absorption coefficients and black carbon concentration; however in Longyearbyen (only data from 21:00e05:00 UTC) they reach 7.9, 0.6 Mm�1 as well as 83 ng/ m3 respectively. Overall, the spring 2014 was considerably clean and seaesalt was the major aerosol component

The results of studies of the vertical gradient of aerosol concentration measurements made during cruises of r/v ‘Oceania’ between 2008 and 2012 are presented. Using the results from those experiments, sea spray emission fluxes were calculated for all particles of sizes in the range from 0.5 μm to 8 μm, as well as for particles of sizes from fifteen channels of 0.5 μm width. The information obtained was further used to calculate the Sea Salt Generation Function (SSGF) for the Baltic Sea depending on the wind speed and the aerosol size distribution.

This work provides information on selected optical parameters related to volcanic ash produced during the eruption of the Eyjafjoll volcano in Iceland in 2010. The observations were made between 16 and 18 April 2010 at four stations representative for northern (Sopot), central (Warsaw, Belsk) and south-eastern (Strzyzow) regions of Poland. The largest ash plume (in terms of aerosol optical thickness) over Poland was observed at night of 16/17 April 2010 in the layer between 4 and 5.5 km a.s.l. The highest values of the aerosol extinction coefficient reached 0.06e0.08 km � 1 at 532 nm (based on lidar observations in Warsaw) and 0.02e0.04 km � 1 at 1064 nm (based on ceilometer observations in Warsaw). The corresponding optical thickness due to volcanic ash reached values of about 0.05 at 532 nm and about 0.03 at 1064 nm. These values are similar to those reported for the Belsk station based on lidar observations. The ash mass concentration estimated based on the maximum aerosol extinction coefficient reached 0.22 � 0.11 mg m � 3 . This value is significantly lower than the limit (2 mg m � 3 ) for the aircraft operation.