Measurements of Stratospheric Aerosol to Altitudes above 35 km in Austral Autumn

大气中的粒子在控制地球的水文、化学和辐射平衡方面起着关键作用。在对流层中，气溶胶为云的形成和微量气体污染物的吸收提供了表面，并且它们根据其光学特性使地球变暖或降温。在平流层中，它们提供了将氯从被动状态转化为主动状态的表面，这将催化破坏臭氧，这对于过滤有害的紫外线辐射至关重要。平流层气溶胶还有助于增加太阳辐射，并有助于吸收地面红外辐射。 粒子通过新粒子的形成、微量气体的扩散、凝聚、凝结以及最终的沉降和沉积或被云捕获而自我限制。这些措施是：i）在南方秋季（4月至6月）全年（飞机）进入麦克默多，ii）开发更小、更轻、更便宜的凝结核计数器（CNC），使（气球携带的）剖面能够达到更高的高度（35公里）。这种新的仪器现在可以在秋季部署，当时回收的机会有限，并飞行到35公里以上的高度，这是测量陨石烟雾颗粒所必需的。提供更多的关于陨石烟雾颗粒对平流层气溶胶的贡献的量化信息，将增进对平流层气溶胶收支的了解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Particles in the atmosphere play key roles in controlling the Earth's hydrologic, chemical, and radiation balances. In the troposphere aerosols provide surfaces for cloud formation, for the absorption of trace gas pollutants, and they either warm or cool the Earth depending on their optical properties. In the stratosphere they provide surfaces for the conversion of chlorine from a passive to an active state which will catalytically destroy ozone, crucial as a filter against damaging UV radiation. Stratospheric aerosols also contribute to increasing the solar albedo, and to the absorption of terrestrial infrared radiation. Particles are self-limiting through the formation of new particles, growth through diffusion, coagulation, condensation of trace gases, and ultimately sedimentation and deposition or capture by clouds.Recent developments extend the observational possibilities. These are i) year round (aircraft) access to McMurdo during austral autumn (April-June) and ii) development of smaller, lighter, inexpensive condensation nuclei counters (CNC) allowing (balloon borne) profiles to higher altitude(35km). This new instrumentation can now be deployed in the fall, when chances of recovery are limited, and flown to altitudes above 35 km, necessary to measure meteoritic smoke particles. Providing additional quantification of the contribution of meteoritic smoke particles to stratospheric aerosol will improve the understanding of the stratospheric aerosol budget. There will be training opportunities in polar measurements for a post-doctoral scholarThis award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.