Measurement of Combustion Effluent Aerosols from the South Pole Station

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Abstract Anthropogenic activities in Antarctica have the potential of producing both contemporaneous and long-term environmental impacts on pristine surroundings. One of these impacts arises from the emission of "black" or "elemental" carbonaceous aerosols from the exhaust of diesel-powered generators and vehicles used to support Antarctic operations. When deposited on the snow and ice cover, this pollutant may be preserved indefinitely. Its high optical absorption will alter the surface albedo and the radiative properties of surface cover. Its ability to catlytically promote certain chemical reactions may lead to modifications of snow and ice chemistry. Its absorbed content of fuel-derived organic species such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other toxics may have a deleterious effect on marginal biota and near coastal stations. Previous work showed that extremely small, but detectable, concentrations of black carbon aerosol are brought to the South Pole station in the background atmosphere in amounts consistent with models of long- range transport; however, this program terminated in 1990. A 1986 study of surface snow and ice showed a clear plume of soot description downwind of the station. This project proposes to install more modern equipment both upwind and downwind of the South Pole station to re-establish the background aerosol measurements and to provide a direct assessment of the station's emissions. The results of this work will contribute to the determination of the station's environmental impact resulting from combustion-derived emissions. This information may be used as input to mitigation and abatement strategies. The upwind data will contribute to the global monitoring record, and to assessments of the global circulation of anthropogenic emissions capable of influencing atmospheric optics and chemistry.