Scavenging of atmospheric ions and aerosols by drifting snow in Antarctica

Abstract

Measurements of the small-, intermediate-, and large-ion concentrations and the air-earth current density along with simultaneous measurements of the concentration and size distribution of aerosol particles in the size ranges 4.4-163 nm and 0.5-20 μm diameter are reported for a drifting snow period after the occurrence of a blizzard at a coastal station, Maitri, Antarctica. Ion concentrations of all categories and the air-earth current simultaneously decrease by approximately an order of magnitude as the wind speed increases from 5 to 10 ms^-1. The rate of decrease is the highest for large ions, lowest for small ions and in-between the two for intermediate ions. Total aerosol number concentration decreases in the 4.4-163 nm size range but increases in the 0.5-20 μm size range with wind speed. The size distribution of the nanometer particles shows a dominant maximum at ~ 30 nm diameter throughout the period of observations and the height of the maximum decreases with wind speed. However, larger particles show a maximum at ~ 0.7 μm diameter but the height of the maximum increases with increasing wind speed. The results are explained in terms of scavenging of atmospheric ions and aerosols by the drifting snow particles.