Influence of meteorological conditions on aerosol vertical distribution and composition off the Northeast American coastline

• Published in: Atmospheric environment 1985, Vol.19 (3), p.423-428
• Main Authors: Sebacher, D.I., Harriss, R.C., Cofer, W.R., Browell, E.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aerosol transport; Applied sciences; Atmospheric aerosols; Atmospheric pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Geophysics; lidar analysis; meteorology; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution
• ISSN: 0004-6981; 1352-2310
• DOI: 10.1016/0004-6981(85)90164-7

The size distribution and composition of lower tropospheric aerosols were measured off the northeast American coastline under clear air and disturbed meteorological conditions. Under the clear air conditions observed on 5 August 1982, with air flow from west to east, sulfate-rich stratified layers are the dominant feature of aerosol distribution in the lowest 3000 m of the troposphere. The encroachment of a warm frontal system over the study area on 9 August 1982 resulted in dramatic changes in aerosol distribution and composition prior to any precipitation, probably due to increased vertical mixing and dilution of pollutant aerosols. Chloride becomes the dominant water soluble anion in the lower 3000 m, primarily due to a several fold decrease in sulfate. Although these results are limited to only two sets of measurements, the data indicate the variability which can occur in the tropospheric vertical aerosol distributions at remote locations. A knowledge of the structure and stability of these stratified layers is of particular importance to studies of the ocean-troposphere chemistry problem.