High number concentrations of transparent exopolymer particles in ambient aerosol particles and cloud water – a case study at the tropical Atlantic Ocean
Department of Experimental Cloud and Microphysics, Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
now at: Center for Aerosol Science and Engineering, Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, 63130, MO, USA
Enno Bahlmann
Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), 28359 Bremen,
Germany
Khanneh Wadinga Fomba
Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz-Institute for
Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Nadja Triesch
Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz-Institute for
Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Frank Stratmann
Department of Experimental Cloud and Microphysics, Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Oliver Wurl
Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment,
Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
A class of marine particles (transparent exopolymer particles, TEPs) that is ubiquitously found in the world oceans was measured for the first time in ambient marine aerosol particles and marine cloud waters in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. TEPs are likely to have good properties for influencing clouds. We show that TEPs are transferred from the ocean to the marine atmosphere via sea-spray formation and our results suggest that they can also form directly in aerosol particles and in cloud water.
A class of marine particles (transparent exopolymer particles, TEPs) that is ubiquitously found...
