Large seasonal and interannual variations of biogenic sulfur compounds in the Arctic atmosphere (Svalbard; 78.9° N, 11.9° E)

Abstract. Seasonal to interannual variations in the concentrations of sulfur aerosols (< 2.5 µm diameter; non sea-salt sulfate: NSS-SO42-; anthropogenic Anth-SO42-; biogenic Bio-SO42-; methanesulfonic acid: MSA) Arctic atmosphere were investigated using measurements chemical composition collected at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (78.9? N, 11.9? E) from 2015 2019. In all measurement years concentration NSS-SO42- was highest during pre-bloom period and rapidly decreased towards summer. During we found a strong correlation between (sum Anth-SO42- Bio-SO42-) Anth-SO42-. This because more than 50 % measured this Anth-SO42-, which originated northern Europe subsequently transported haze. Unexpected increases Bio-SO42- (an oxidation product dimethylsulfide: DMS) occasionally period. These probably regions south (the North Atlantic Ocean Norwegian Sea) rather ocean areas proximity Ny-Ålesund. Another DMS is MSA, ratio MSA extensively used estimate total amount DMS-derived aerosol particles remote marine environments. The remained low, primarily greater loss relative suppression condensation gaseous onto already present air masses being northwards distant source (existing particles). addition, low light intensity resulted photochemically activated oxidant species including OH radicals BrO; these conditions favored pathway acted lower peaked May or June positively correlated with phytoplankton biomass Greenland Barents seas around Svalbard. As result, mean (0.09 ± 0.07) but high (0.32 0.15) bloom post-bloom periods. There large variability (i.e., 0.24 0.11 2017, 0.40 0.14 2018, 0.36 2019) associated changes properties existing particles, biological activities surrounding observation site, mass transport patterns. Our results indicate that not conservative tracer for predicting contribution growth newly formed may be much larger periods