Observational Constraints on Sea Salt Contribution to CCN Over the Southern Ocean

Abstract Earth system models exhibit persistent biases in simulating cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) over the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, largely due to inadequate representation of aerosol sources. Here, we present year‐round (January 2023–February 2024) measurements of aerosol hygroscopicity (HTDMA), particle number size distribution (SMPS), and CCN concentration from King Sejong Station (KSJ), Antarctica, to constrain CCN sources in this pristine environment. Size‐resolved hygroscopicity‐based source apportionment shows that sea salt aerosol (SSA) contributes 43%–54% of CCN at cloud‐relevant supersaturations (Sc = 0.2%–1.0%). Compared against the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reanalysis (CAMSRA), our observations demonstrate that models underestimate SSA‐derived CCN at KSJ by a factor of 30 at Sc = 0.2%, providing critical constraints for aerosol–cloud interactions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2026-09-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2026gl125204
Primary Topic
Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
Type
article
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Observational Constraints on Sea Salt Contribution to CCN Over the Southern Ocean

Minju Seo, Young Jun Yoon, Eunho Jang, Chang Hoon Jung et al.
Geophysical Research Letters
Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
article

Observational Constraints on Sea Salt Contribution to CCN Over the Southern Ocean

Minju Seo, Young Jun Yoon, Eunho Jang, Chang Hoon Jung, Radovan Krejčí, Ruqian Miao, Ahsan Ali, Darius Čeburnis, Yeontae Gim, Ji Yi Lee, Wei Xu, Hyo Jin Kang, Yang Lin, Keran Zhang, Colin O'Dowd, Changeun Kim, Ji‐Yeon Park
article en

Abstract

Abstract Earth system models exhibit persistent biases in simulating cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) over the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, largely due to inadequate representation of aerosol sources. Here, we present year‐round (January 2023–February 2024) measurements of aerosol hygroscopicity (HTDMA), particle number size distribution (SMPS), and CCN concentration from King Sejong Station (KSJ), Antarctica, to constrain CCN sources in this pristine environment. Size‐resolved hygroscopicity‐based source apportionment shows that sea salt aerosol (SSA) contributes 43%–54% of CCN at cloud‐relevant supersaturations (Sc = 0.2%–1.0%). Compared against the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reanalysis (CAMSRA), our observations demonstrate that models underestimate SSA‐derived CCN at KSJ by a factor of 30 at Sc = 0.2%, providing critical constraints for aerosol–cloud interactions.

Geophysical Research LettersVol. 53(18)
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KR), Ewha Womans University (KR), Stockholm University (SE), Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE), Peking University (CN), Korea Polar Research Institute (KR), Institute of Urban Environment (CN), Kyung-in Women's University (KR), Bolin Centre for Climate Research (SE), Korea University of Science and Technology (KR)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 14%
Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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