SAFAOF

Secondary Aerosol Formation in an Arctic Oil Field

15 February 2020 - 10 April 2020

Lead Scientist: Kerri Pratt

Observatory: AMF (ARM Mobile Facility 3) - OLI

Atmospheric aerosols contribute significantly to Arctic warming, yet significant differences in aerosol concentration levels and seasonal cycles often exist between models and observations. Recent studies of cloud properties across the North Slope of Alaska suggest a significant, regional influence of oil field emissions. Increasing development across the Arctic motivates the need to characterize these oilfield emissions to further predict their roles in changing future Arctic climate. Due to extreme temperatures and air-snow interactions, Arctic oil field emissions, atmospheric oxidation of those emissions to generate secondary organic aerosol (SOA), and the resulting impacts of this anthropogenic SOA on Arctic clouds and climate likely differs from analogous mid-latitude processes. Following Polar Sunrise during Arctic spring, chlorine chemistry is active, and we hypothesize that oxidation of oil field hydrocarbons by chlorine atoms (Cl) generates oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) that lead to springtime Arctic SOA formation. The overarching scientific goals of this Feb. - Apr. 2020 ARM AMF3 field campaign at Oliktok Point are to: 1) characterize the molecular composition of VOCs, OVOCs and SOA present within the North Slope of Alaska oil fields, 2) characterize the molecular composition of  OVOCs and additional SOA generated from the oxidation of VOCs exposed to Cl generated in an oxidation flow reactor, and 3) measure the size distributions and mixing states of individual atmospheric particles. These measurements will be complemented by routine aerosol and meteorological measurements at the AMF3. This field campaign addresses the key ASR research areas of 'Aerosol Processes' and 'High-Latitude Processes'.