The sources of the water soluble organic matter contained in the aerosols over the Atlantic ocean decoded

Organic matter is an important component of aerosols, which can absorb (or scatter) light, contributing a warming (or cooling) effect to the atmospheric radiative budget. However, this impact is tightly linked to the molecular characteristics of aerosol organic matter. It is, therefore, of prime importance to establish the organic matter molecular details of aerosols from different sources.

This characterization is the aim of Wozniak et al. paper (2014, see reference below). Based on aerosols samples collected in the framework of the North Atlantic US GEOTRACES GA03 cruise, the authors analyzed their water soluble organic matter (WSOM) molecular characteristics using an ultrahigh-resolution analytical method*. Multivariate statistics allowed the identification of five sources with very different distinguishing WSOM characteristics, enlightening the origin of these different aerosol components.

*electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

14 Wozniak l
Figure. Three dimensional plots showing the principal component analysis a) scores for samples from the five aerosol emission sources and the b) molecular formula loadings that distinguish each source from the others. Click here to view the image larger.

 

Reference:

Wozniak, A. S., Willoughby, A. S., Gurganus, S. C., & Hatcher, P. G. (2014). Distinguishing molecular characteristics of aerosol water soluble organic matter from the 2011 trans-North Atlantic US GEOTRACES cruise. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 14(16), 8419–8434. doi: 10.5194/acp-14-8419-2014 Click here to access the paper.

 

Latest highlights

Aerosol dissolution and iron isotope fractionation during atmospheric transport

Camin and co-authors present the iron concentrations and isotopic compositions of aerosols in previously undocumented areas of the Pacific Ocean.

Paradoxical influence of hydrothermal methylmercury on local ecosystems

Torres Rodríguez and her colleagues investigate hydrothermal mercury inputs at the Tonga volcanic arc and their impact on local surface ocean ecosystems.

Rare Earth and neodymium isotope cycles in the abyssal Pacific Ocean are shaking up the paradigm established for particle reactive tracers

Du and colleagues demonstrate the importance of the abyssal sediment source in the control of the trace element and isotopes marine distribution.

Anthropogenic iron impact on the surface productivity in the Pacific Transition Zone

Hawco and colleagues investigated the influence of industrial emissions on oceanic iron supply and its ecological consequences in the North Pacific.

Rechercher