How important are future marine and shipping aerosol emissions in a warming Arctic summer and autumn?

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics Vol. 18; no. 14; pp. 10521 - 10555
• Main Authors: Gilgen, Anina, Huang, Wan Ting Katty, Ickes, Luisa, Neubauer, David, Lohmann, Ulrike
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 24.07.2018; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Aerosol effects; Aerosol particles; Aerosols; Albedo; Albedo (solar); Anthropogenic factors; Arctic climates; Arctic temperatures; Atmosphere; Autumn; Black carbon; By-products; Cargo ships; Climate; Climate change; Climate models; Cloud condensation nuclei; Cloud droplet concentration; Cloud effects; Cloud properties; Clouds; Computer simulation; Condensation nuclei; Cooling; Cooling effects; Dimethyl sulfide; Dimethyl sulfide emissions; Distribution; Emissions (Pollution); Environmental aspects; Gases; Global aerosols; Human influences; Human-environment interactions; Humidity; Ice; Ice cover; Ice environments; Merchant ships; Meteorology; Nucleus; Oceans; Optical thickness; Polar environments; Precipitation; Radiation; Radiative forcing; Rainfall; Sea ice; Shipping; Shipping industry; Ships; Snow; Specific humidity; Sulfides; Sulphides; Summer; Surface temperature; Temperature effects; Arctic Ocean; Arctic region
• ISSN: 1680-7324; 1680-7316; 1680-7324
• DOI: 10.5194/acp-18-10521-2018

Future sea ice retreat in the Arctic in summer and autumn is expected to affect both natural and anthropogenic aerosol emissions: sea ice acts as a barrier between the ocean and the atmosphere, and reducing it increases dimethyl sulfide and sea salt emissions. Additionally, a decrease in the area and thickness of sea ice could lead to enhanced Arctic ship traffic, for example due to shorter routes of cargo ships. Changes in the emissions of aerosol particles can then influence cloud properties, precipitation, surface albedo, and radiation. Next to changes in aerosol emissions, clouds will also be affected by increases in Arctic temperatures and humidities. In this study, we quantify how future aerosol radiative forcings and cloud radiative effects might change in the Arctic in late summer (July-August) and early autumn (September-October).