Publications

Description of functionality for introducing sampled air quality measurements in AirQUIS. NILU TR

Arnesen, K.; Johnsrud, M.

Description and evaluation of airborne microplastics in the United Kingdom Earth System Model (UKESM1.1) using GLOMAP-mode

McErlich, Cameron; Goddard, Felix; Aves, Alex; Hardacre, Catherine; Evangeliou, Nikolaos; Hewitt, Alan J.; Revell, Laura E.

Abstract. Airborne microplastics are a recently identified atmospheric aerosol species with potential air quality and climate impacts, yet they are not currently represented in global climate models. Here, we describe the addition of microplastics to the aerosol scheme of the UK Earth System Model (UKESM1.1): the Global Model of Aerosol Processes (GLOMAP). Microplastics are included as both fragments and fibres across a range of aerosol size modes, enabling interaction with existing aerosol processes such as ageing and wet and dry deposition. Simulated microplastics have higher concentrations over land, but can be transported into remote regions including Antarctica despite no assumed emissions from these regions. Lifetimes range between ∼17 d to ∼1 h, with smaller, hydrophilic microplastics having longer lifetimes. Microplastics are present throughout the troposphere, and the smallest particles are simulated to reach the lower stratosphere in small numbers. Dry deposition is the dominant microplastic removal pathway, but greater wet deposition occurs for smaller hydrophilic microplastic, due to interactions with clouds. Although microplastics currently contribute a minor fraction of the total aerosol burden, their concentration is expected to increase in future if plastic production continues to increase, and as existing plastic waste in the environment degrades to form new microplastic. Incorporating microplastics into UKESM1.1 is a key step toward quantifying their current atmospheric impact and offers a framework for simulating future emission scenarios for an assessment of their long term impacts on air quality and climate.

Descent from the polar mesosphere and anomalously high stratopause observed in 8 years of water vapor and temperature satellite observations by the Odin Sub-Millimetre Radiometer.

Orsolini, Y. J.; Urban, J.; Murtagh, D.; Lossow, S.; Limpasuvan, V.

Deriving glacier flow of Comfortlessbreen, Svalbard, with 2-pass differential SAR interferometry. NILU F

Schneevoigt, N.J.; Bogren, W.; Sund, M.; Weydahl, D.J.; Kaab, A.

Derfor er luftkvaliteten bedre om sommeren.

Solbakken, C. F.

Deposition of sulfur and nitrogen in Norway 2017-2021

Blake, Lewis R.; Aas, Wenche; Denby, Bruce; Hjellbrekke, Anne-Gunn; Mu, Qing; Simpson, David; Ytre-Eide, Martin; Fagerli, Hilde

Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Deposition of major inorganic compounds in Norway 2012-2016. NILU report

Aas, W.; Hjellbrekke, A.-G.; Fagerli, H.; Benedictov, A.

This report contains estimates of atmospheric deposition of major inorganic compounds in Norway for the period 2012 to 2016 using two different methods, one observational based method while the other combining atmospheric transport model with observations. Both methods show similar clear spatial gradient in the atmospheric deposition with highest loads in south and south-west. The combined method has improved the spatial information of the deposition pattern for wet deposition. For dry deposition, there are quite large uncertainties in the estimated dry deposition velocities in both methods. Compared to the previous period 2007-2011, there is a decrease in the total sulfur deposition in Norway of 9%. For total nitrogen there are minor changes. Compared to the 1978-1982 period, the reductions in sulfur and nitrogen depositions are 75% and 20% respectively.

Deposition of major inorganic compounds in Norway 2002-2006. NILU OR

Aas, W.; Hjellbrekke, A.-G.; Hole, L.R.; Tørseth, K.

Deposition of ionic species and black carbon to the Arctic snowpack: combining snow pit observations with modeling

Jacobi, Hans-Werner; Obleitner, Friedrich; Costa, Sophie Da; Ginot, Patrick; Eleftheriadis, Konstantinos; Aas, Wenche; Zanatta, Marco

Although aerosols in the Arctic have multiple and complex impacts on the regional climate, their removal due to deposition is still not well quantified. We combined meteorological, aerosol, precipitation, and snowpack observations with simulations to derive information about the deposition of sea salt components and black carbon (BC) from November 2011 to April 2012 to the Arctic snowpack at two locations close to Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. The dominating role of sea salt and the contribution of dust for the composition of atmospheric aerosols were reflected in the seasonal composition of the snowpack. The strong alignment of the concentrations of the major sea salt components in the aerosols, the precipitation, and the snowpack is linked to the importance of wet deposition for transfer from the atmosphere to the snowpack. This agreement was less strong for monthly snow budgets and deposition, indicating important relocation of the impurities inside the snowpack after deposition. Wet deposition was less important for the transfer of nitrate, non-sea-salt sulfate, and BC to the snow during the winter period. The average BC concentration in the snowpack remains small, with a limited impact on snow albedo and melting. Nevertheless, the observations also indicate an important redistribution of BC in the snowpack, leading to layers with enhanced concentrations. The complex behavior of bromide due to modifications during sea salt aerosol formation and remobilization in the atmosphere and in the snow were not resolved because of the lack of bromide measurements in aerosols and precipitation.

Deposition of air pollutants around the North Sea and the North-East Atlantic in 2014. OSPAR monitoring and assessment, 680/2016

Aas, W.

Deposition of air pollutants around the North Sea and the North-East Atlantic in 2012. OSPAR monitoring and assessment, 632/2014

Aas, W.

Deposition of air pollutants around the North Sea and the North-East Atlantic in 2010. OSPAR monitoring and assessment, 564/2012

Newton, A.

Deposition of air pollutants around the North Sea and the North-East Atlantic in 2008. NILU OR

Barrett, K.

This reports summarises the observations of the deposition of pollutants from the atmosphere to the North Sea area during 2008. Priority is given to the metals arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc, the organic pollutant lindane, and to oxidised and reduced forms of nitrogen. A number of voluntarily monitored pollutants are also reported by North Sea countries. As well as providing rates of deposition observed in 2008, the report summarises the temporal trends in deposition of lead, cadmium, mercury and PCB's.