Project Title

Collaborative Research: Antarctic Low Cloud Interaction with Natural Aerosol (ALCINA)

Summary

Event Number:
O-325-P
NSF / OPP Award 2130203

Program Director:
Dr. David Porter

ASC POC/Implementer:
Matthew Erickson / Jamee Johnson

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Dan Lubin
dlubin@ucsd.edu
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
La Jolla, California

Location

Supporting Stations: Palmer Station
Research Locations: Palmer Station

Description

This project will collect data on aerosol chemical and microphysical properties simultaneously with cloud optical properties at Palmer Station continuously for 18 months, sampling aerosols sourced from both the ocean and from the continent. Encompassing all seasons including two austral summers, these new observations will yield robust aerosol-cloud interaction statistics for climate model evaluation and improvement. Aerosol property measurements include size distributions, number concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei and ice nucleating particles (INPs), chemical composition including mineral, sulfate, sea salt and organics, and microbial community structure from DNA sequencing. These new measurements will also differentiate between influences of algal blooms and continental dust on INPs, for which there is presently a great scarcity of data over Antarctica.

Field Season Overview

In 2024-25, prior to the data collection season, the Antarctic Support Contract will construct a base, receive and assemble a temporary LEER structure (~2,400lbs) designed to house scientific equipment scheduled to arrive during the 2025-26 season.