28.10.2025 BOKU-Met Seminar
Atmospheric aerosols influence climate radiative forcing through both aerosol–radiation interactions (ARI) and aerosol–cloud interactions (ACI). However, large uncertainties remain in quantifying these processes, making measurements of aerosol properties essential for reducing such uncertainties.
As part of my Ph.D. research, I conducted two measurement campaigns in coastal environments: one in Aarhus, Denmark, a Scandinavian urban coastal city, and the other at the remote Arctic site, Villum Research Station. In urban coastal city, aerosols originate from a complex mixture of anthropogenic and biogenic sources and are affected by both marine and continental air masses. Characterizing their properties is crucial for understanding not only their role in climate forcing but also their potential health impacts on local populations. We investigated in-situ aerosol light scattering, absorption, and size distributions, and combined these measurements with FLEXPART footprint analyses to link observed properties with chemical composition and source contributions.
In the Arctic, where warming occurs at roughly three times the global average, increased land exposure enhances emissions from surface dust and biogenic activity. Understanding Arctic aerosols is critical for improving estimates of their regional climate effects. We conducted in-situ measurements of aerosol light scattering, absorption, and size distributions, and integrated these with FLEXPART footprint analysis, lidar observations, and chemical composition data to identify aerosol types and sources in the region.