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Enhanced Aerosol Mass in the Tropical Tropopause Layer Linked to Ozone Abundance
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  • Shang Liu,
  • Troy Dean Thornberry,
  • Pengfei Yu,
  • Sarah Woods,
  • Karen H. Rosenlof,
  • Ru-Shan Gao
Shang Liu
Northeastern University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Troy Dean Thornberry
NOAA ESRL
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Pengfei Yu
Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University
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Sarah Woods
National Center for Atmospheric Research
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Karen H. Rosenlof
NOAA ESRL CSL
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Ru-Shan Gao
NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory
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Abstract

Aerosol particles play a critical role in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) through cloud formation and heterogeneous chemistry, influencing the radiative and chemical balance of the stratosphere. However, aerosol measurements in the TTL are sparse, resulting in poor knowledge of aerosol abundance and distribution in this important region. Here, we present in situ aircraft measurements over the western tropical Pacific, revealing a persistent and altitude-dependent enhancement of aerosol mass in the TTL compared to the convectively influenced troposphere below. Notably, our data demonstrate a striking positive correlation between aerosol mass and ozone. Model simulations suggest that organic materials constitute a substantial fraction of the total aerosol mass within the TTL. We further derived an empirical parameterization of TTL aerosol mass as a function of ozone. Given the relative ease of ozone measurements and modeling, the parameterization provides a promising framework for estimating TTL aerosol abundance and its effects on climate.
28 Nov 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
03 Dec 2023Published in ESS Open Archive