Stratospheric ozone depletion in the Antarctic region triggers intense changes in sea salt aerosol geochemistry

Since the early 1980s, the Antarctic environment has served as a natural field laboratory for researchers to investigate the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, which has resulted in increased surface ultraviolet radiation levels. However, its effective threats still present gaps. We report new pieces of evidence of increased ultraviolet radiation impacting West Antarctica sea salt aerosols. Salt aerosols, particularly in the Southern Ocean Sea, play an important role in the radiative earth balance. To disclose the molecular details of sea salt aerosols, we used a synchrotron-based multi-element microscopic speciation of individual microparticles (Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy with Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy combined with Computer-Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy). Here we identified substantial abundances of chlorine-enriched aerosols in sea salt generated by photolytic products, whereas ice core records revealed increased chlorine depletion from the onset of ozone depletion. Our findings reveal that modern sea salt modification has no Holocene precedent. Molecular analysis of atmospheric microparticles in West Antarctica reveals chlorine-enriched aerosols are abundant in sea salt generated by photolytic products, while ice core records suggest increasing chlorine depletion since the onset of stratospheric ozone reduction.

Automated summary

Since the 1980s, researchers have been using the Antarctic environment as a natural laboratory to study the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion on increased ultraviolet radiation levels. However, there are still gaps in our understanding. New evidence shows that increased ultraviolet radiation is impacting sea salt aerosols in West Antarctica, which play a crucial role in the Earth's radiative balance. Molecular analysis reveals abundant chlorine-enriched aerosols in sea salt, generated by photolytic products, while ice core records suggest increasing chlorine depletion since the onset of ozone depletion in the stratosphere.