Arctic field studies of Metal-Organic Interactions at Snow-Atmosphere Interface

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The interaction between aerosols and clouds is a significant factor affecting the magnitude of the climate change and is a major research topic recognized by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC; 2007). Since little is known about the interaction between aerosols and clouds, a research initiative focused on this subject is of major importance. This project is thus dedicated to address this knowledge gap through selected field studies in atmospheric chemistry with a focus on interactions of metallic and organic containing aerosols. Although heterogeneously catalyzed reactions in the stratosphere have been well established for several decades, the atmospheric physio-chemical processes promoted by snow packs and air water interface have been largely overlooked until very recently. Chemistry and photochemistry within the snow pack and air-ice-water interface are increasingly recognised as significant contributors to air quality and cloud formation in the lower troposphere, with substantial impacts on climate change. While numerous field studies in the last five years, including those of our group, have identified the snow pack as a significant (and often dominant) source of various chemical species, the measured mixing ratios cannot be interpreted within current atmospheric chemistry models.Building on our pioneering Arctic research in the areas of atmospheric chemistry of mercury as well as (bio)organic physical and analytical atmospheric chemistry, our research will now move to the next level of complexity. Questions to be addressed include: