Characterization of refractory aerosol particles collected in the tropical upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS) within the Asian tropopause aerosol layer (ATAL)

Aerosol particles with diameters larger than 40 nm were collected during the flight campaign StratoClim 2017 within the Asian tropopause aerosol layer (ATAL) of the 2017 monsoon anticyclone above the Indian subcontinent. A multi-impactor system was installed on board the aircraft M-55 Geophysica, which was operated from Kathmandu, Nepal. The size and chemical composition of more than 5000 refractory particles/inclusions of 17 selected particle samples from seven different flights were analyzed by use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis. Based on chemical composition and morphology, the refractory particles were assigned to the following particle groups: extraterrestrial, silicates, Fe-rich, Al-rich, Hg-rich, other metals, C-rich, soot, Cl-rich, and Ca-rich.

Most abundant particle groups within the refractory particles are silicates and C-rich (non-volatile organics). In samples taken above the tropopause, extraterrestrial particles are becoming increasingly important with rising altitude. The most frequent particle sources for the small (maximum in size distribution DP-max=120 nm) refractory particles carried into the ATAL are combustion processes at the ground (burning of fossil fuels/biomass burning) and the agitation of soil material. The refractory particles in the ATAL represent only a very small fraction (< 2 % by number for particles > 40 nm) of the total aerosol particles, which are dominated by species like ammonium, sulfate, nitrate, and volatile organics. During one flight, a large number of very small (DP-max=25 nm) cinnabar particles (HgS) were detected, which are supposed to originate from a ground source such as coal combustion or underground coal fires.