Aerosol Measurements Over and Near the South Pacific Ocean and Ross Sea

Abstract

Aerosol concentrations were measured at sea along the international date line from 40 to 75°S latitude, and over pack ice, fast ice and unvegetated land surfaces in a 100 km circle immediately south of the Ross Sea. Surface aerosol concentrations measured were similar to oceanic concentrations measured in the Northern Hemisphere in westerly and northwesterly winds, but lower concentrations were observed in the polar easterlies. Turbidity measurements indicated a relatively greater total aerosol burden in the vicinity of the antarctic convergence than near New Zealand or over the Ross Sea. Similar turbidity measurements showed a progressively smaller relative aerosol burden over fast ice, Ross Island, and the Antarctic continent. Comparison of these turbidity measurements with those made 13 and 31 years previously show no systematic change in turbidity. Surface aerosol measurements in the dry valleys of Victoria Land indicated higher concentrations that may result from natural production mechanism.