Journal article
Coral reef exposure increases aerosol and cloud condensation nuclei over the Great Barrier Reef
Aerosol research, Vol.4(2), pp.413-427
09/09/2026
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Abstract
The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is the largest reef ecosystem in the world and is home to diverse marine life. In situ measurements characterizing lower troposphere aerosol concentrations and dynamics over the GBR are lacking in the literature. In this study, we present analysis of multi-year in situ aerosol measurements over the GBR, showing, for the first time, direct observations of coral reefs contributing to aerosol loading over the reef. Our results show that aerosol concentrations over the GBR are typical of a clean coastal environment, and the aerosol loading over the GBR is primarily influenced by the long-range transport of aerosol particles. However, a non-negligible effect from local sources is also observed. The fraction of small aerosol particles in the particle population increases in air masses that pass over the coral reef ecosystem. Finally, our statistical modelling shows that cloud condensation nuclei concentrations over the GBR are dominantly driven by the availability of accumulation and Aitken-mode aerosol particles with negligible effects from local meteorology. While accumulation-mode particle concentrations have the strongest impact on cloud condensation nuclei concentrations, counterfactual modelling simulation shows that Aitken-mode concentrations can contribute up to 6 % to cloud condensation nuclei concentrations over the reef.
Details
- Title
- Coral reef exposure increases aerosol and cloud condensation nuclei over the Great Barrier Reef
- Creators
- Juha Sulo - Queensland University of TechnologyMagdalena Okuljar - Queensland University of TechnologyJoel Alroe - Queensland University of TechnologyZijun Li - Queensland University of TechnologyEva Johanna Horchler - Queensland University of TechnologyLuke Cravigan - Queensland University of TechnologyBranka Miljevic - Queensland University of TechnologyLuke Harrison - Southern Cross UniversityDaniel Harrison - Southern Cross UniversityZoran Ristovski - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication Details
- Aerosol research, Vol.4(2), pp.413-427
- Publisher
- Copernicus Publications
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- This research was funded by the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program through the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and supported by a grant of sea time on RV Investigator from the CSIRO Marine National Facility (https: //ror.org/01mae9353, last access: 25 May 2026).
- Identifiers
- 991013402370402368
- Copyright
- © Author(s) 2026.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article