New study reveals shifting water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) properties in the western Arctic Ocean

Accelerated warming and a decline in sea ice coverage in the summertime Arctic Ocean can significantly affect the emissions of marine organic aerosols. A recent study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics unveils intriguing findings on the changing characteristics of atmospheric water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in the western Arctic Ocean. Notably, the authors observed distinct variations in WSOC fluorescence properties between coastal and sea-ice-covered regions. Coastal fine-mode WSOC exhibited higher levels of polycondensation and aromaticity, whereas sea-ice-covered areas displayed newer, less-oxygenated, and biologically derived secondary organic components. These discoveries deepen our understanding of the chemical and biological linkage of WSOC at the ocean-sea ice-atmosphere interface and emphasise the significance of fluorescence analysis in deciphering the origin and freshness of water-soluble chromophores.

Reference: Jung, J., Miyazaki, Y., Hur, J. et al., (2023). Measurement report: Summertime fluorescence characteristics of atmospheric water-soluble organic carbon in the marine boundary layer of the western Arctic Ocean. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23(8), 4663-4684. https://doi.org/10.519 4/acp-23-4663-2023