New Insights into Aerosol Roles in the Earth System with UAS Observational Capability

FAN MEI, Hailong Wang, Zihua Zhu, Damao Zhang, Qi Zhang, Jerome Fast, William Gustafson, Xiangyu Li, Beat Schmid, Christopher Niedek, Jason Tomlinson, Connor Flynn, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

     Abstract Number: 20
     Working Group: Aerosols, Clouds and Climate

Abstract
The spatial distribution of ambient aerosol particles plays a crucial role in aerosol-radiation and aerosol-cloud interactions, contributing significantly to the largest uncertainty in global anthropogenic radiative forcing estimations. Unfortunately, the boundary layer and lower free troposphere have not been adequately sampled with a sufficient temporal and spatial resolution to fully understand various atmospheric processes, which hampers our ability to comprehend the Earth system better. Thankfully, the development of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) coupled with advanced measurement techniques provides much-needed mesoscale spatiotemporal data of the aerosol microphysical and optical properties around the Southern Great Plains (SGP observatory). We have used a state-of-the-art 3-dimensional molecular imaging technique enabled by secondary ion mass spectrometry and nanogram-level chemical composition analysis capability via micronebulization aerosol mass spectrometry to identify the dominant role of the organic-enriched nanometer layers at the surface of aerosol particles in determining aerosol optical and hygroscopic properties profiles above the SGP observatory. Overall, this study highlights the potential of UAS coupled with advanced measurement techniques to improve our understanding of the aerosol life cycle and provide valuable data needed to enhance and optimize sampling strategies.