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Project
Het ontrafelen van fijnstofchemie in Dronning Maud Land: van atmosfeer tot sneeuwoppervlak (FOD41)
Atmospheric composition change is a main driver of present and near-future climate change with airborne particles (AP) playing a major role therein. The impact of mineral AP as a major source of micronutrients (e.g. Fe) in the so-called “High Nutrient Low Chlorophyll” oceanic zones (like the Southern Ocean) that affects the global CO2 cycling, illustrates the close and complex relationships between the composition of atmospheric particles and global climate. In addition, atmospheric particles interact via scattering and absorption with radiation and have an impact on the energy balance in the atmosphere and at the surface. They also act as cloud condensation and ice nuclei and therefore play a crucial role in the formation of clouds, affecting both their radiative properties and precipitation.
However, the aerosol fluxes and sources in Antarctica and its closely associated Southern Ocean are poorly constrained, in particular the particle chemistry. Antarctica is considered the best preserved region on Earth from anthropogenic emissions. However, the impact of anthropogenic airborne particles and pollutants could be significantly larger than expected. Furthermore, a detailed understanding of present-day atmospheric transport pathways of particles and of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from source to deposition in Antarctica remains essential to document biogeochemical cycles and the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic compounds, which are not well constrained at the moment. This information is relevant to interpret climatic data extracted from ice cores and the transport and deposition of not only mineral nutrients, but also and essentially of organic micro-pollutants in polar regions.
The CHASE project provides detailed physical-chemical analyses of both atmospheric and surface snow particles as well as of volatile organic compounds recovered near the Belgian research station Princess Elisabeth (PE), Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, and thoroughly investigates their atmospheric transport pathways. Such detailed studies have never occurred in the region where Princess Elisabeth station is located. The project consists of 4 components: (i) a particle and air sampling with physical-chemical analysis component, (ii) a data interpretation component, (iii) a synthesis component, and (iv) a valorisation component.
The starting point consists of the particle and air sampling followed by a thorough physical- chemical analysis with state-of-the art and innovative analytical instruments. Sampling of AP will be done by (i) active High-Volume sampling on quartz fibre filters in the first place and (ii) by exploring the possibilities of passive sampling, using e.g., polyurethane foam plugs (PUF) disk type samplers and polymer sheet materials. Molecular chemical analyses will be carried out by liquid or gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Target compounds will be characterized by a broad range of polarity, molecular weight and volatility and will include e.g. (oxy-)PAHs, PCBs and possibly important tracer compounds. Also, the occurrence and concentration levels of atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) will be investigated by means of both active and passive sampling followed by TD-GC-MS analysis. The determination of the inorganic composition of AP will be done by both passive and active sampling. In addition, surface snow will be collected for inorganic particle composition analysis. Single particle morphological and chemical analyses will be done by automated-FEG-SEM-EDS analyses and both geochemical (major and trace elements) and Sr, Nd, Pb isotopic analyses by HR-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS, respectively. Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) will determine the stable isotopic signature (C, N) of the different types of organic material recovered.
However, the aerosol fluxes and sources in Antarctica and its closely associated Southern Ocean are poorly constrained, in particular the particle chemistry. Antarctica is considered the best preserved region on Earth from anthropogenic emissions. However, the impact of anthropogenic airborne particles and pollutants could be significantly larger than expected. Furthermore, a detailed understanding of present-day atmospheric transport pathways of particles and of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from source to deposition in Antarctica remains essential to document biogeochemical cycles and the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic compounds, which are not well constrained at the moment. This information is relevant to interpret climatic data extracted from ice cores and the transport and deposition of not only mineral nutrients, but also and essentially of organic micro-pollutants in polar regions.
The CHASE project provides detailed physical-chemical analyses of both atmospheric and surface snow particles as well as of volatile organic compounds recovered near the Belgian research station Princess Elisabeth (PE), Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, and thoroughly investigates their atmospheric transport pathways. Such detailed studies have never occurred in the region where Princess Elisabeth station is located. The project consists of 4 components: (i) a particle and air sampling with physical-chemical analysis component, (ii) a data interpretation component, (iii) a synthesis component, and (iv) a valorisation component.
The starting point consists of the particle and air sampling followed by a thorough physical- chemical analysis with state-of-the art and innovative analytical instruments. Sampling of AP will be done by (i) active High-Volume sampling on quartz fibre filters in the first place and (ii) by exploring the possibilities of passive sampling, using e.g., polyurethane foam plugs (PUF) disk type samplers and polymer sheet materials. Molecular chemical analyses will be carried out by liquid or gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Target compounds will be characterized by a broad range of polarity, molecular weight and volatility and will include e.g. (oxy-)PAHs, PCBs and possibly important tracer compounds. Also, the occurrence and concentration levels of atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) will be investigated by means of both active and passive sampling followed by TD-GC-MS analysis. The determination of the inorganic composition of AP will be done by both passive and active sampling. In addition, surface snow will be collected for inorganic particle composition analysis. Single particle morphological and chemical analyses will be done by automated-FEG-SEM-EDS analyses and both geochemical (major and trace elements) and Sr, Nd, Pb isotopic analyses by HR-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS, respectively. Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) will determine the stable isotopic signature (C, N) of the different types of organic material recovered.
Datum:1 jan 2017 → 15 apr 2020
Trefwoorden:Dust particles, Atmospheric chemistry, Global Changes, East Antarctica, Atmospheric transport, Isotope geochemistry
Disciplines:Biogeochemie