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| Aerosols and Ocean Science Expeditions | |
|---|---|
| Name | Aerosols and Ocean Science Expeditions |
| Type | Scientific oceanographic expeditions |
| Purpose | Study of atmospheric aerosols, marine aerosols, air–sea exchange, biogeochemistry |
| Start date | 20th century–present |
| Organizations | National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory |
| Locations | Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Southern Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Indian Ocean |
| Notable participants | Walter Munk, Carl Wunsch, Susan Solomon, Veerabhadran Ramanathan, John Martin |
Aerosols and Ocean Science Expeditions
Aerosol–ocean expeditions are multidisciplinary field programs that measure atmospheric particles over the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean to understand air–sea exchange, marine biogeochemistry, and climate forcing. These campaigns unite researchers from institutions such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory with cruises aboard vessels operated by organizations like the R/V Knorr and RRS James Clark Ross. The work builds on legacies from programs associated with figures such as Walter Munk, Susan Solomon, and John Martin and informs satellite missions led by European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Expeditions targeting aerosols over oceans link atmospheric chemistry, marine biology, and physical oceanography, engaging teams from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, San Diego, Columbia University, University of Washington, and Imperial College London. Historically connected to programs such as International Geophysical Year, GEOTRACES, and Joint Global Ocean Flux Study, these cruises often coordinate with satellite campaigns by NOAA, NASA, and European Space Agency missions like MODIS and Sentinel. Vessel-based measurements complement research by platforms including ARIES and autonomous systems from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Primary goals address sources, transformations, and sinks of aerosols: quantifying emissions from phytoplankton blooms associated with the Iron Hypothesis and work by John Martin; partitioning sea spray contributions studied in programs led by Roger Revelle and Carl Wunsch; and tracing long-range transport documented in analyses involving Gavin Schmidt and Veerabhadran Ramanathan. Key questions probe how aerosols modulate cloud albedo relevant to Twomey effect research, how dimethyl sulfide production connects to studies by Charlson et al. and Paul Crutzen, and how aerosol deposition affects nutrient cycles explored by teams from GEOTRACES and International Ocean Discovery Program.
Field suites combine aerosol spectrometers used in studies at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, chemical ionization mass spectrometers deployed by NOAA, and single-particle soot photometers utilized in campaigns coordinated with NASA Ames Research Center. Sampling includes high-volume air samplers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, cascade impactors developed in collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory, and wet-deposition collectors used by US Geological Survey. Shipboard sensors often integrate aerosol optical depth instruments cross-calibrated with satellite teams at Jet Propulsion Laboratory and radiometric groups at National Institute of Standards and Technology. Autonomous samplers from MBARI and aerosol lidar systems tested with European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts support vertical profiling.
Notable programs include legacies and modern efforts: the atmospheric legs of GEOTRACES cruises, Southern Ocean campaigns tied to British Antarctic Survey and RRS James Clark Ross, Arctic aerosol studies linked to Polarstern cruises by Alfred Wegener Institute, and Atlantic transects aboard R/V Knorr associated with NOAA. Large coordinated campaigns involved networks from International Maritime Organization partners, US programs such as IMPACTS and SPARTAN, and multinational efforts aligning with World Meteorological Organization panels. Historical campaigns with influence include projects connected to International Geophysical Year and the EUREC4A array.
Expeditions have shown that marine aerosols arise from physical generation of sea spray described in work by Lewis Fry Richardson-era physics and from biological emissions linked to phytoplankton taxa studied by teams at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Max Planck Institute for Chemistry. Measurements corroborate mechanisms proposed in studies by Charlson et al. and Paul Crutzen where dimethyl sulfide oxidizes to form sulfate aerosols influencing cloud condensation nuclei concentrations examined by Piers J. Sellers-affiliated groups. Long-range transport of dust and combustion aerosols traced from source regions such as the Sahara Desert, Gobi Desert, and urban plumes like Los Angeles alter ocean iron budgets, supporting hypotheses advanced by John Martin and observed during GEOTRACES legs. Shipboard experiments quantify sea spray organic enrichment reported by investigators from Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory and Imperial College London.
Findings link aerosol fluxes to radiative forcing parameters analyzed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change authors and climate modelers at Met Office Hadley Centre, National Center for Atmospheric Research, and Princeton University. Changes in cloud microphysics tied to aerosol properties relate to regional climate effects studied in the Southern Ocean campaigns influencing projections by IPCC assessments. Deposition of mineral dust and combustion aerosols impacts primary productivity in low-nutrient regions as documented by researchers affiliated with GEOTRACES, Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research, and International Polar Year initiatives. Policy-relevant outcomes have informed advisory panels convened by United Nations Environment Programme and World Meteorological Organization.
Conducting aerosol measurements at sea requires coordination among flag states like United Kingdom and United States, adherence to safety standards overseen by International Maritime Organization, and collaboration with ship operators such as British Antarctic Survey and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Challenges include instrument calibration under salt exposure addressed by engineering teams at National Institute of Standards and Technology, handling hazardous chemicals following protocols from Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and ensuring air sampling integrity during rough seas mitigated using designs from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Security and permitting for Arctic and Antarctic operations involve agencies such as Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs and National Science Foundation.
Category:Oceanographic expeditions Category:Aerosol science Category:Climate science