Influence of Open Ocean Biogeochemistry on Aerosol and Clouds: Recent Findings and Perspectives

 

Aerosols and clouds are key components of the marine atmosphere, impacting the Earth’s radiative budget. This review reports recent advances in the understanding of how open ocean aerosol sources are modulated by ocean biogeochemistry and how they, in turn, shape cloud coverage and properties. This report summarises these findings in the following topics including ocean biogeochemical processes, particle formation by nucleation and sea spray emissions, particle growth by condensation of gases, the potential of particles to act as cloud condensation nuclei or ice nucleating particles, and their effects on cloud formation, optical properties, and life cycle. We also discuss how these processes may be impacted in a warming climate and the potential for ocean biogeochemistry-climate feedbacks through aerosols and clouds.

This paper is collected in the SOLAS Special Feature "Boundary Shift: The Air-Sea Interface in a Changing Climate".

Reference: Sellegri, K., Simó, R., Wang, B.B., et al. (2024). Influence of open ocean biogeochemistry on aerosol and clouds: Recent findings and perspectives. Elem. Sci. Anth., 12 (1): 00058. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2023.00058