Aerosol-boundary layer dynamics and its effect on aerosol radiative forcing and atmospheric heating rate in the Indian Ocean sector of Southern Ocean

Abstract

The study examines the thermodynamic structure of the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) and its effect on the aerosol dynamics in the Indian Ocean sector of Southern Ocean (ISSO) between 30°S-67°S and 57°E-77°E. It includes observations of aerosols and meteorology collected during the Xth Southern Ocean Expedition conducted in December 2017. The results revealed the effect of frontal-region-specific air-sea coupling on the thermodynamic structure of MABL and its role in regulating aerosols in ISSO. The MABL over the subtropical front was unstable and formed a well-evolved mixed layer (≈2400 m) capped by low-level inversions (≈660 m). Convective activities in the Sub-Antarctic Frontal region were associated with the Agulhas Retroflection Current, which supported the formation of a well-developed mixed layer (≈1860 m). The mean estimates of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and black carbon (BC) mass concentrations were 0.095 ± 0.006 and 50 ± 14 ng m−3, respectively, and the resultant clear sky direct shortwave radiative forcing (DARF) and atmospheric heating rate (HR) were 1.32 ± 0.11 W m−2 and 0.022 ± 0.002 K day−1, respectively. In the polar front (PF) region, frequent mid-latitude cyclones led to highly stabilized MABL, supported low-level multi-layered clouds (>3-layers) and multiple high-level inversions (strength > 0.5 K m−1 > 3000 m). The clouds were mixed-phased with temperatures less than −12 °C at 3000 m altitude. Interestingly, there was higher loading of dust and BC aerosols (276 ± 24 ng m−3), maximum AOD (0.109 ± 0.009), clear sky DARF (1.73 ± 0.02 W m−2), and HR (0.029 ± 0.005 K day−1). This showed an accumulation of long-range advected anthropogenic aerosols within baroclinic-boundaries formed over the PF region. Specifically, in the region south of PF, weak convection caused weakly-unstable MABL with a single low-level inversion followed by no clouds/single-layer clouds. Predominant clean maritime air holding a small fraction of dust and BC accounted for lower estimates of AOD (0.071 ± 0.004), BC concentrations (90 ± 55 ng m−3) and associated clear sky DARF and HR were 1.16 ± 0.06 W m−2 and 0.019 ± 0.001 K day−1, respectively.