By David Pearce
The overarching aim of this SIOS Access project was to study the role of microorganisms both as physical particles and specifically through the expression of ice-nucleating particles (INP), in biogenic ice nucleation in the Arctic.
The current work has built on existing studies in Svalbard, strengthening Svalbard’s position as a global centre and leader in Arctic research. It has extended existing networks of climate scientists and enhanced the SIOS observations. Specifically, this work aimed to address the interactions between biological, chemical and physical factors in cloud formation dynamics, through the addition of new biological data, to integrate the different disciplines and observations in existing locations. Better understanding the interplay between these factors has opened the discussion for the development of novel monitoring strategies to understand and predict the likely feedbacks associated with climate change.
Aims
- Understand bacterial distribution and abundance in the atmosphere above Svalbard.
- Determine the ice nucleation gene diversity and distribution within these bacteria.
- Investigate the microbial influence on ice nucleation in the Arctic.
- Determine the proportion of ice nucleation activity attributable to biogenic sources.
- Predict the likely impact of this activity on existing climate model assumptions.
Figure 1. Location of air samples outside Ny-Ålesund and Longyearbyen. 10 marine locations via MV Ulla Rinman, 9 terrestrial locations (Mine 7, landfill site, Longyearbyen centre and edge of town, Longyearbreen, Ny-Ålesund, Sverdrup, Gruvebadet and Zeppelin).
Phase 1. Capturing the diversity and distribution of bioaerosols with respect to known climatological parameters by installing samplers at observatories and remote locations around Svalbard that represent marine and terrestrial aerosol sources (Figure 1).
Phase 2. Establishing an annual monitoring cycle at Zeppelin station to look at temporal variation over an annual cycle (early June and late September seasonal samples obtained, five days consecutively in September – onward annual sampling now under discussion with collaborators)
Phase 3. Conducting ice nucleation studies in vitro to include microscopical observations and biochemical investigations that target the underlying mechanisms in an attempt to close the link between the presence of biological particles and INP concentrations.
Initial pilot study – June 2022
- Met atmospheric scientists based at and working in Ny-Ålesund
- Deployed sampling equipment in the field and aligned with current facilities and processes
- Conducted preliminary sampling to determine optimal positioning of samplers at a) Svederup (NPI) planetary boundary layer, b) Gruvebadet planetary boundary layer and c) Zeppelin station lower troposphere.
Full study - September 2022
- Conducted a spatial distributional study – collected air samples from a range of different sites around Svalbard to ensure that samples taken at Ny-Ålesund were representative of the Arctic Region and not just the location at Ny-Ålesund at the time of sampling
- Conducted a temporal distributional study – sampled over a consecutive period to determine the variability and consistency of results over time
- Investigated the logistics and mechanisms of linking new biogenic measurements with physical and chemical measurements currently being made.
Expected Outcome and Contribution to the SIOS Observing System
This project has primarily contributed to SIOS atmosphere core data (SCD1) with the potential to contribute to SCD2-SCD4. The work has specifically addressed recommendations from Chapter 2 of the 2018 SESS report.
In particular, this project has developed existing work on physical aspects of aerosols and cloud formation and will now help define new interactions between the biosphere, geosphere and atmosphere to be investigated.
In practical terms, the work has brought together a network of people to think about and continue to develop this area of work.
