Scavenging of Insoluble Particles from the Marine Atmosphere over the Sub-Arctic North Pacific

Direct deposition measurements ofatmospheric insoluble particles over the sub-ArcticNorth Pacific indicate that the number of particles(6.4 ± 3.8) × 10⁴ cm^-2 per rain eventwas fairly constant compared with the large variationof the precipitation rate, which ranged from 0.16 to18 mm per event for 43 rain days during the period ofMarch–September (total 109 days) 1996. Thissuggests that insoluble particles larger than 0.4 min area equivalent diameter are primarilyremoved at the margin of the rainfall area by wetscavenging processes below clouds in the marineatmosphere in sub-Arctic regions. The frequency ofrain events controls the fate of the troposphericaerosols larger than sub-micrometer in diameter. Reflecting the seasonal long-range transport of Asiandust, mineral particles were dominant as insolubleparticles in the spring rains, but carbonaceousparticles were dominant in the summer rains. Theatmospheric deposition of insoluble particles could besignificant as a source of sediment particles over thesub-Arctic North Pacific.