Antarctic Troposphere Study Highlights Impact of Volcanic Eruptions on Aerosol Levels

The Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Germany has conducted research using the ocean-atmosphere platform to study Antarctica, revealing that the high concentration of aerosols in the Antarctic troposphere may be linked to volcanic activity and warm air intrusions. This discovery is crucial for enhancing climate models and understanding regional climate change. The preliminary research findings have been published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS).

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are integral components of the global climate system. While the Antarctic climate has been relatively stable over the past century, significant changes have been observed in recent years.

By analyzing measurements from atmospheric lidar systems, researchers gained insights into the number of particles suspended in the skies over Antarctica and at which altitudes they float. The study found that the Antarctic troposphere is largely relatively clean. In contrast, the research team unexpectedly observed a significant amount of particles in the troposphere.

The optical characteristics obtained from the lidar clearly indicate that these aerosols are sulfate aerosols, primarily caused by volcanic eruptions. These aerosols have been observed in the troposphere since January 2023, making them most likely linked to the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in January 2022.

Although the aerosols observed in the upper atmosphere of Antarctica were more abundant than expected, the lower atmosphere was proven to be as clean as hypothesized. Continuous measurements enabled the team to "watch" the growth of clouds. For instance, a stable mixed-phase cloud composed of ice crystals and water droplets was observed in a layer of marine aerosols, persisting for 10 hours.