SNACS

SNACS: Studies of the Northern Alaskan Coastal System

10 February 2005 - 31 May 2005

Lead Scientist: William Simpson

Observatory: NSA (North Slope of Alaska)

The atmospheric chemistry of the arctic during springtime is unique due to the prevalence of what are normally minor chemical pathways. These chemical pathways are driven by reactive halogen gases, such as bromine monoxide (BrO). These halogen gases form from sea salt and destroy ground-level ozone and convert gaseous mercury to snow-bound mercury ions that may then find their way into the ecosystem, affecting people and the environment. To better understand this chemistry, we measured the concentration of BrO by a remote-sensing technique called differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS). We installed an instrument in Atqasuk at the ARM site, and had a similar instrument in Barrow. Comparison of the measurements between the two sites gave us information on how the halogen oxides are formed and what gradients in their concentration exist over the North Slope of Alaska.