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The Composition and Stratospheric Fate of Aerosol Particles Originating in the Polar Vortex.

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Title: The Composition and Stratospheric Fate of Aerosol Particles Originating in the Polar Vortex.
Authors: Lawler, Michael J.1,2 (AUTHOR) michael.lawler@noaa.gov, Schill, Gregory P.2 (AUTHOR), Murphy, Daniel M.2 (AUTHOR), Abou‐Ghanem, Maya2,3 (AUTHOR), Brock, Charles A.2 (AUTHOR), Lyu, Ming1,2 (AUTHOR), Ahern, Adam T.1,2 (AUTHOR), Taylor, Samuel J.1,2 (AUTHOR), Hintsa, Eric J.1,4 (AUTHOR), Moore, Fred L.1,4 (AUTHOR), Dutton, Geoffrey S.1,4 (AUTHOR), Nance, J. David1,4 (AUTHOR), Hall, Bradley D.4 (AUTHOR), Pierce, R. Bradley5 (AUTHOR), Ray, Eric A.1,2 (AUTHOR), Thornberry, Troy D.2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres. 10/28/2025, Vol. 130 Issue 20, p1-12. 12p.
Subject Terms: *Aerosols, *Stratosphere, *Atmospheric aerosols, *Climate change, *Sulfuric acid, *Ozone, *Atmospheric chemistry, Polar vortex
Abstract: Stratospheric aerosol plays a significant role in the Earth's energy balance, primarily through its direct interaction with solar radiation. It is also an important chemical reactor that contributes to the multiphase chemistry of ozone destruction by halogen compounds. Sulfuric acid is the main chemical component of stratospheric aerosol, but the processes that control the composition and size of stratospheric particles remain uncertain. We report direct observations of the composition of individual particles of 0.12–1.2 μm geometric diameter, sampled in situ in the high latitude lower stratosphere during February and March of 2023, at altitudes up to 19 km. Polar vortex air was frequently sampled, enabling an investigation into the nature of particles formed in air descending from the mesosphere and upper stratosphere. Over 90% of particles at the sampled sizes in very old polar vortex air contain metals from the ablation of meteors, suggesting that almost all sulfuric acid particles formed in such air grow onto meteoric smoke. Such particles contain extremely low levels of organic matter, typically less than about 0.3% by mass, and relatively high mass fractions of metals, around 5%–8%. These newly characterized "neat" meteoric‐sulfuric particles gain additional sulfuric acid and organic compounds by coagulation with background stratospheric aerosol, forming "aged" meteoric‐sulfuric particles, which are encountered throughout the stratosphere. On the basis of these observations, we estimate a meteoric iron flux into the Earth's atmosphere of about 0.3–1 Gg yr−1. Plain Language Summary: We sampled atmospheric particles from a high‐altitude aircraft flying out of Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, AK, during February–March 2023. We found that essentially all particles coming down through the polar vortex and mixing with background air were made of sulfuric acid with a small amount of metals derived from meteors burning up in the upper atmosphere. These particles have a larger meteoric metal fraction than typical stratospheric particles. Burn‐up of satellites and rocket stages also contributes metal to these particles. Whether these space‐derived metals play an important role for chemistry or climate is still unknown. Key Points: Most particles in stratospheric polar vortex air are sulfuric acid with several percent by mass of meteor‐ and spacecraft‐derived metalsThese small meteoric‐sulfuric particles coagulate with background aerosol to widely distribute metals across the stratospheric aerosolLarger vortex‐originating particles are more likely to contain metals from spacecraft ablation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: The Composition and Stratospheric Fate of Aerosol Particles Originating in the Polar Vortex.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lawler%2C+Michael+J%2E%22">Lawler, Michael J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> michael.lawler@noaa.gov</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schill%2C+Gregory+P%2E%22">Schill, Gregory P.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Murphy%2C+Daniel+M%2E%22">Murphy, Daniel M.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abou‐Ghanem%2C+Maya%22">Abou‐Ghanem, Maya</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brock%2C+Charles+A%2E%22">Brock, Charles A.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lyu%2C+Ming%22">Lyu, Ming</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ahern%2C+Adam+T%2E%22">Ahern, Adam T.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Taylor%2C+Samuel+J%2E%22">Taylor, Samuel J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hintsa%2C+Eric+J%2E%22">Hintsa, Eric J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moore%2C+Fred+L%2E%22">Moore, Fred L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dutton%2C+Geoffrey+S%2E%22">Dutton, Geoffrey S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nance%2C+J%2E+David%22">Nance, J. David</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hall%2C+Bradley+D%2E%22">Hall, Bradley D.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pierce%2C+R%2E+Bradley%22">Pierce, R. Bradley</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ray%2C+Eric+A%2E%22">Ray, Eric A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thornberry%2C+Troy+D%2E%22">Thornberry, Troy D.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Atmospheres%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres</searchLink>. 10/28/2025, Vol. 130 Issue 20, p1-12. 12p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aerosols%22">Aerosols</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stratosphere%22">Stratosphere</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+aerosols%22">Atmospheric aerosols</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climate+change%22">Climate change</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sulfuric+acid%22">Sulfuric acid</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ozone%22">Ozone</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+chemistry%22">Atmospheric chemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polar+vortex%22">Polar vortex</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Stratospheric aerosol plays a significant role in the Earth's energy balance, primarily through its direct interaction with solar radiation. It is also an important chemical reactor that contributes to the multiphase chemistry of ozone destruction by halogen compounds. Sulfuric acid is the main chemical component of stratospheric aerosol, but the processes that control the composition and size of stratospheric particles remain uncertain. We report direct observations of the composition of individual particles of 0.12–1.2 μm geometric diameter, sampled in situ in the high latitude lower stratosphere during February and March of 2023, at altitudes up to 19 km. Polar vortex air was frequently sampled, enabling an investigation into the nature of particles formed in air descending from the mesosphere and upper stratosphere. Over 90% of particles at the sampled sizes in very old polar vortex air contain metals from the ablation of meteors, suggesting that almost all sulfuric acid particles formed in such air grow onto meteoric smoke. Such particles contain extremely low levels of organic matter, typically less than about 0.3% by mass, and relatively high mass fractions of metals, around 5%–8%. These newly characterized "neat" meteoric‐sulfuric particles gain additional sulfuric acid and organic compounds by coagulation with background stratospheric aerosol, forming "aged" meteoric‐sulfuric particles, which are encountered throughout the stratosphere. On the basis of these observations, we estimate a meteoric iron flux into the Earth's atmosphere of about 0.3–1 Gg yr−1. Plain Language Summary: We sampled atmospheric particles from a high‐altitude aircraft flying out of Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, AK, during February–March 2023. We found that essentially all particles coming down through the polar vortex and mixing with background air were made of sulfuric acid with a small amount of metals derived from meteors burning up in the upper atmosphere. These particles have a larger meteoric metal fraction than typical stratospheric particles. Burn‐up of satellites and rocket stages also contributes metal to these particles. Whether these space‐derived metals play an important role for chemistry or climate is still unknown. Key Points: Most particles in stratospheric polar vortex air are sulfuric acid with several percent by mass of meteor‐ and spacecraft‐derived metalsThese small meteoric‐sulfuric particles coagulate with background aerosol to widely distribute metals across the stratospheric aerosolLarger vortex‐originating particles are more likely to contain metals from spacecraft ablation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=188926066
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2025JD043530
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Aerosols
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Stratosphere
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric aerosols
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Climate change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sulfuric acid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ozone
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polar vortex
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The Composition and Stratospheric Fate of Aerosol Particles Originating in the Polar Vortex.
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              Text: 10/28/2025
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