Contributions of transported Prudhoe Bay oil field emissions to the aerosol population in Utqiaġvik, Alaska release_rkd24h2yuvaexkv3lahbfdqhwy

by Matthew J. Gunsch, Rachel Kirpes, Katheryn R. Kolesar, Tate E. Barrett, Swarup China, Rebecca J. Sheesley, Alexander Laskin, Alfred Wiedensohler, Thomas Tuch, Kerri Pratt

Published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics by Copernicus GmbH.

2017   Volume 17, Issue 17, p10879-10892

Abstract

<strong>Abstract.</strong> Loss of sea ice is opening the Arctic to increasing development involving oil and gas extraction and shipping. Given the significant impacts of absorbing aerosol and secondary aerosol precursors emitted within the rapidly warming Arctic region, it is necessary to characterize local anthropogenic aerosol sources and compare to natural conditions. From August to September 2015 in Utqiaġvik (Barrow), AK, the chemical composition of individual atmospheric particles was measured by computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (0.13–4<span class="thinspace"></span>µm projected area diameter) and real-time single-particle mass spectrometry (0.2–1.5<span class="thinspace"></span>µm vacuum aerodynamic diameter). During periods influenced by the Arctic Ocean (70<span class="thinspace"></span>% of the study), our results show that fresh sea spray aerosol contributed  ∼ 20<span class="thinspace"></span>%, by number, of particles between 0.13 and 0.4<span class="thinspace"></span>µm, 40–70<span class="thinspace"></span>% between 0.4 and 1<span class="thinspace"></span>µm, and 80–100<span class="thinspace"></span>% between 1 and 4<span class="thinspace"></span>µm particles. In contrast, for periods influenced by emissions from Prudhoe Bay (10<span class="thinspace"></span>% of the study), the third largest oil field in North America, there was a strong influence from submicron (0.13–1<span class="thinspace"></span>µm) combustion-derived particles (20–50<span class="thinspace"></span>% organic carbon, by number; 5–10<span class="thinspace"></span>% soot by number). While sea spray aerosol still comprised a large fraction of particles (90<span class="thinspace"></span>% by number from 1 to 4<span class="thinspace"></span>µm) detected under Prudhoe Bay influence, these particles were internally mixed with sulfate and nitrate indicative of aging processes during transport. In addition, the overall mode of the particle size number distribution shifted from 76<span class="thinspace"></span>nm during Arctic Ocean influence to 27<span class="thinspace"></span>nm during Prudhoe Bay influence, with particle concentrations increasing from 130 to 920<span class="thinspace"></span>cm<sup>−3</sup> due to transported particle emissions from the oil fields. The increased contributions of carbonaceous combustion products and partially aged sea spray aerosol should be considered in future Arctic atmospheric composition and climate simulations.
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