Size-distribution of submicron aerosol particles over the Indian Ocean during IFP-99 of INDOEX

Abstract

Measurements of the size-distribution of submicron aerosol particles of diameter from 0.003 to 1 μm are made over the Indian Ocean during the IFP-99 of the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX). Measurements are made during the onward journey from Goa to Port Louis, Mauritius from 20 January to 11 February 1999 onboard ORV Sagar Kanya and during the return journey from Port Louis to Male from 22 February to 1 March 1999 onboard Ronald H. Brown. Observations show large concentrations in the range of 2-6 × 10³ particles/cm³ over the Indian Ocean in the northern hemisphere and these drop down to about 500 particles/cm³ in the southern hemisphere. However, the aerosol concentrations show a peak of about 3 × 10³ particles/cm³ at 13°S. In the northern hemisphere, the concentration of particles of diameter < 0.0749 μm increases from 14°N to 1°N and then steeply falls. On the other hand, the concentration of particles of diameter > 0.0749 μm keeps decreasing up to 6°S. Size distributions of particles at open sea in the northern hemisphere show a maximum at 0.133 μm and minimum at 0.0422 μm and are generally openended at the smaller size end. The size-distributions of particles are sometimes relatively flat from 0.0133 to 0.237 μm when the particle concentrations are low in the southern hemisphere. The transport and accumulation of aerosol particles in the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone is discussed. The relative abundance of large versus small particles is examined with respect to the variation of surface atmospheric pressure along the route.