Modelling of marine base cation emissions, concentrations and deposition in the UK

Werner, M.; Kryza, M.; Dore, A.J.; Blas, M.; Hallsworth, S.; Vieno, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7741-9377; Tang, Y.S.; Smith, R.I.. 2011 Modelling of marine base cation emissions, concentrations and deposition in the UK. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 11 (3). 1023-1037. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-1023-2011

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Abstract/Summary

Base cations exert a large impact on various geochemical and geophysical processes both in the atmosphere and at the Earth surface. One of the essential roles of these compounds is impact on surface pH causing an increase in alkalinity and neutralizing the effects of acidity generated by sulphur and nitrogen deposition. During recent years anthropogenic emissions of base cations in the UK have decreased substantially, by about 70%, 78%, 75% and 48% for Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and K+, respectively, over the period 1990–2006. For the island regions, such as the UK, the main source of base cation particles is the aerosol produced from the sea surface. Here, the sea salt aerosol (SSA) emissions are calculated with parameterisations proposed by M°artensson et al. (2003) for ultra fine particles, Monahan et al. (1986) for fine particles and Smith and Harisson (1998) for coarse particles continuously with a 0.1 μm size step using WRF-modelled wind speed data at a 5 km×5 km grid square resolution with a 3 h time step for two selected years 2003 and 2006. SSA production has been converted into base cation emissions, with the assumption that the chemical composition of the particle emitted from the sea surface is equal to the chemical composition of sea water, and used as input data in the Fine Resolution Atmospheric Multi-pollutant Exchange Model (FRAME). FRAME model annual mean concentrations and total wet deposition at a 5 km×5 km grid resolution, are compared with concentrations in air and wet deposition from the National Monitoring Network and measurements based estimates of UK deposition budget. The correlation coefficient for wet deposition achieves high values (R =0.8) for Na+ and Mg2+, whereas for Ca2+ the correlation is poor (R < 0.3). Base cation concentrations are also represented well, with some overestimations on the west coast and underestimations in the centre of the land.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-1023-2011
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 2 - Biogeochemistry and Climate System Processes > BGC - 2.1 - Quantify & model processes that control the emission, fate and bioavailability of pollutants
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Billett (to November 2013)
ISSN:	1680-7316
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics is an Open Access journal. Please click on the OFFICIAL URL link to access full text.
NORA Subject Terms:	Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	16 Mar 2011 12:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13352

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