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Enhanced sulfur in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere in spring 2020

Tomsche, Laura ; Marsing, Andreas; Jurkat-Witschas, Tina; Lucke, Johannes; Kaufmann, Stefan; Kaiser, Katharina; Schneider, Johannes; Scheibe, Monika; Schlager, Hans; Röder, Lenard; Fischer, Horst; Obersteiner, Florian ORCID iD icon 1; Zahn, Andreas 2; Zöger, Martin; Lelieveld, Jos; Voigt, Christiane
1 Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
2 Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung – Atmosphärische Spurenstoffe und Fernerkundung (IMK-ASF), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Abstract:

Sulfur compounds in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) impact the atmosphere radiation budget, either directly as particles or indirectly as precursor gas for new particle formation. In situ measurements in the UTLS are rare but are important to better understand the impact of the sulfur budget on climate. The BLUESKY mission in May and June 2020 explored an unprecedented situation. (1) The UTLS experienced extraordinary dry conditions in spring 2020 over Europe, in comparison to previous years, and (2) the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic caused major emission reductions from industry, ground, and airborne transportation. With the two research aircraft HALO and Falcon, 20 flights were conducted over central Europe and the North Atlantic to investigate the atmospheric composition with respect to trace gases, aerosol, and clouds. Here, we focus on measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO$_{2}$) and particulate sulfate (SO$^{2-}$$_{4}$) in the altitude range of 8 to 14.5 km which show unexpectedly enhanced mixing ratios of SO$_{2}$ in the upper troposphere and of SO$^{2-}$$_{4}$ in the lowermost stratosphere. In the UT, we find SO$_{2}$ mixing ratios of (0.07±0.01) ppb, caused by the remaining air traffic, and reduced SO$_{2}$ sinks due to low OH and low cloud fractions and to a minor extent by uplift from boundary layer sources. ... mehr


Verlagsausgabe §
DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000155563
Veröffentlicht am 01.02.2023
Cover der Publikation
Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung – Atmosphärische Spurenstoffe und Fernerkundung (IMK-ASF)
Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Publikationsjahr 2022
Sprache Englisch
Identifikator ISSN: 1680-7324
KITopen-ID: 1000155563
Erschienen in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Verlag European Geosciences Union (EGU)
Band 22
Heft 22
Seiten 15135–15151
Vorab online veröffentlicht am 28.11.2022
Nachgewiesen in Web of Science
Dimensions
Scopus
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