Simple Analysis on the Relationship Between Sea Salt Aerosols and Precipitation in the North Pacific Ocean Using the Global Chemical Transport Model Simulation

Abstract

The relationship between sea salt aerosol and the precipitation in the North Pacific is analyzed by using the global chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) simulation and the observations for 1986-2010. It is found that the amount of deep convective cloud increases in the eastern North Pacific when the sea salt concentration increases in the central North Pacific during boreal winter (Dec.-Jan.-Feb.). Concurrently, the amount of precipitation in the eastern North Pacific is enhanced in the high sea salt concentration years because the precipitation over the North Pacific is primarily from deep convective clouds. It is found that the variability of sea salt concentration in the central North Pacific is significantly correlated with both the precipitation and the amount of deep convective cloud in the eastern North Pacific. These results indicate that the sea salt may act to induce the vigorous convection in the North Pacific. These results also imply that the sea salt concentration should be considered in climate models to simulate correctly atmospheric and oceanic variables such as precipitation and cloud.