Abstract: Polar regions are experiencing rapid climate change, including melting ice, rising temperatures, and disrupted ecosystems. Advancing our understanding of the physical and chemical processes in these regions is crucial for comprehending climate change and responding effectively both locally and globally. Reliable future projections and policies require a better grasp of the processes within each compartment of the coupled ocean-ice-atmosphere system and their interactions within the Earth system.
The polar atmospheric composition, which includes a complex mixture of aerosols, ozone, and other trace gases, significantly influences regional air quality and the availability of aerosols as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nucleating particles (INPs). Polar aerosols affect weather and climate through their role in cloud formation and their direct and indirect radiative effects. In contrast, polar tropospheric ozone is primarily important for atmospheric chemistry, including the determination of oxidation processes in the atmosphere.
This talk will explore the specific processes that determine the lifecycles of polar aerosols and ozone, focusing on atmospheric chemistry processes and emissions unique to the polar regions, with an emphasis on the Arctic. I will present process and regional modeling analyses that demonstrate how the lifecycles of polar aerosols and ozone are linked to sea ice and snow. Key factors controlling atmospheric transport and processing will be discussed, along with perspectives on future expectations as climate change continues to accelerate in the polar regions.
- Atmospheric and climate sciences have a stronghold in Oslo among the four institutions University of Oslo, the Meteorological Institute, CICERO and NILU.
- This joint seminar invites renowned international experts to contribute to an informal series of lectures, meant to create interaction with the Oslo atmospheric and climate science community on recent highlights and analysis in the field.
- Normally seminars will be held on Thursdays (12:15 pm -1pm).