Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 9 5 2009 10.5194/acpd-9-18727-2009 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/18727/2009/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/18727/2009/acpd-9-18727-2009.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/18727/2009/acpd-9-18727-2009.pdf 18727 18743 2009-09-10 Decadal trends in aerosol chemical composition at Barrow, AK: 1976–2008 P. K. Quinn patricia.k.quinn@noaa.gov T. S. Bates K. Schulz G. E. Shaw NOAA PMEL, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA University of Alaska, 903 Koyukuk Dr., Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA Aerosol measurements at Barrow, AK during the past 30 years have identified the long range transport of pollution associated with Arctic Haze as well as ocean-derived aerosols of more local origin. Here, we focus on measurements of aerosol chemical composition to assess 1) trends in Arctic Haze aerosol and implications for source regions, 2) the interaction between pollution-derived and ocean-derived aerosols and the resulting impacts on the chemistry of the Arctic boundary layer, and 3) the response of aerosols to a changing climate. Aerosol chemical composition measured at Barrow, AK during the Arctic haze season is compared for the years 1976–1977 and 1997–2008. Based on these two data sets, concentrations of non-sea salt (nss) sulfate (SO₄⁼) and non-crustal (nc) vanadium (V) have decreased by about 60% over this 30 year period. Consistency in the ratios of nss SO₄⁼/ncV and nc manganese (Mn)/ncV between the two data sets indicates that, although emissions have decreased in the source regions, the source regions have remained the same over this time period. 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