1. Diel cycle of sea spray aerosol concentration
- Author
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Guillaume Bourdin, J. Michel Flores, Sarah Romac, Fabien Lombard, Guy Dagan, Assaf Vardi, Christian R. Voolstra, Alexander B. Kostinski, Ilan Koren, Naama Lang-Yona, Yinon Rudich, Emmanuel Boss, Gabriel Gorsky, Nils Haëntjens, Orit Altaratz, Matthew B. Sullivan, Miri Trainic, Department of Earth and Planetary Science [Rehovot], Weizmann Institute of Science [Rehovot, Israël], University of Maine, Michigan Technological University (MTU), Laboratoire d'océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV), Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Maine - School of Marine Sciences, and Griffith University [Brisbane]
- Subjects
Atmospheric chemistry ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Science ,General Physics and Astronomy ,Sunset ,Atmospheric sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Article ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,Atmosphere ,03 medical and health sciences ,ddc:570 ,Sunrise ,14. Life underwater ,Diel vertical migration ,030304 developmental biology ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Marine biology ,[SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean, Atmosphere ,0303 health sciences ,Multidisciplinary ,fungi ,General Chemistry ,Sea spray ,Aerosol ,Sea surface temperature ,stomatognathic diseases ,13. Climate action ,Environmental chemistry ,Environmental science ,Surface water - Abstract
Sea spray aerosol (SSA) formation have a major role in the climate system, but measurements at a global-scale of this micro-scale process are highly challenging. We measured high-resolution temporal patterns of SSA number concentration over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean covering over 42,000 km. We discovered a ubiquitous 24-hour rhythm to the SSA number concentration, with concentrations increasing after sunrise, remaining higher during the day, and returning to predawn values after sunset. The presence of dominating continental aerosol transport can mask the SSA cycle. We did not find significant links between the diel cycle of SSA number concentration and diel variations of surface winds, atmospheric physical properties, radiation, pollution, nor oceanic physical properties. However, the daily mean sea surface temperature positively correlated with the magnitude of the day-to-nighttime increase in SSA concentration. Parallel diel patterns in particle sizes were also detected in near-surface waters attributed to variations in the size of particles smaller than ~1 µm. These variations may point to microbial day-to-night modulation of bubble-bursting dynamics as a possible cause of the SSA cycle., Sea spray aerosol (SSA) are an important way through which oceans can influence the atmosphere’s radiative properties. Here, the authors present measurements taken over a 42,000 km ship cruise in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean and show that SSA number concentrations vary over a 24-hour cycle, possibly linked to surface water bubble-bursting dynamics.
- Published
- 2021
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