Variability in aerosol and air ion composition in the Arctic spring atmosphere

Systematic measurement results of aerosol dispersity in the size range from 0.004 to 10 mu m in diameter, element composition, and the mobility spectrum of atmospheric ions in the range from 0.00032 to 5 cm(2)/V s in the surface atmospheric layer at Zigler Island (Western Arctic, Franz-Joseph Archipelago, March-April 1994) are presented. A comparison is made with data obtained using similar methods and instruments at Wrangel Island (Eastern Arctic, March-April 1985), in Antarctica (Molodezhnaya station, January-May 1983), over the Pamir mountains (Fedchenko glacier, September 1989) and in the vicinity of Moscow (Obninsk, April-May 1994). The form and variability of the aerosol size and air ion mobility spectra at different regions of the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as in mountain and forest steppe regions, do not differ significantly. The stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer and wind speed are the main factors of variability of the arctic aerosols and ions. Inflows of air from the mainland do not change these positions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.