Conference paper
Size distributions of sea salt aerosols for marine cloud brightening over the Great Barrier Reef
General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG Berlin 2023), XXVIII (Berlin, Germany, 11/07/2023 - 20/07/2023)
13/07/2023
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Abstract
Marine cloud brightening (MCB) aims to increase the albedo of low-lying marine clouds by the introduction of additional sea salt aerosol particles (SSA) increasing the population of cloud condensation nuclei which activate to form cloud droplets. The outcomes of this intervention depend on the size and hygroscopicity of the introduced SSA and meteorological conditions. SSA that are too small or too large are both speculated to reduce the magnitude of the desired net albedo increase, or may even reduce albedo. The ideal SSA size distribution is subject to debate however literature suggests dry diameters in the range of 60-1000nm may be effective. Current technologies produce a distribution of SSA particles sizes, rather than the monomodal size originally proposed for MCB. We have studied numerous nozzle technologies to continuously, efficiently and effectively produce sufficient quantities of SSA from sea water. Size distributions and production rates of these various nozzle technologies from laboratory data tests will be presented and will be compared to data from a campaign on the southern Great Barrier Reef (Feb-April 2023). Data from this campaign was measured from an aircraft, drones and on the surface from a research ship following another vessel containing the spraying apparatus. The implications for the effectivity of MCB due to changes in size distribution with distance and altitude from the spraying source will discussed. This work was undertaken as part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, funded by the partnership between the Australian Governments Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Details
- Title
- Size distributions of sea salt aerosols for marine cloud brightening over the Great Barrier Reef
- Creators
- Chris Medcraft - Southern Cross UniversityDiana C Hernandez-Jaramillo - Southern Cross UniversityLuke Harrison - University of SydneyRamon Braga - Southern Cross UniversityPeter Butcherine - Southern Cross UniversityDaniel P Harrison - Southern Cross University
- Conference
- General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG Berlin 2023), XXVIII (Berlin, Germany, 11/07/2023 - 20/07/2023)
- Identifiers
- 991013154284102368
- Academic Unit
- National Marine Science Centre; Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference paper