Interaction between boreal forests and the atmospheric aerosol

Abstract
Boreal forests constitute one of the largest vegetation zones in the world and cover a major fraction of the land surface area in Scandinavia and Russia. It has been demonstrated that boreal forests are an important natural source of small aerosol particles into the atmosphere, having a potential to influence the global climate and human health. The primary objective of this project is to provide, for the first time and in a large geographical scale, a quantitative understanding on how the boreal forest zone interacts with the atmospheric aerosol system and ultimately climate. Within this framework, we aim to address the following more specific questions: 1) what are the physical and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosols over the Russia and how they vary temporally and spatially compared with similar observations in Finland?, 2) what are the primary sources of anthropogenic aerosols over Russia and how they are transported to the boreal forest zone?, 3) what are the emissions of natural aerosol particles from the boreal forest zone? and 4) what is the radiative forcing of aerosols emitted by boreal forests?

In order to estimate the various influences of aerosols emitted by boreal forests, detailed measurement data from large geographical areas are needed. In the proposed project such data will be provided by conducting an extensive measurement campaign in Russia, which includes real-time measurement of aerosol physical and chemical properties and collection of aerosol samples for subsequent chemical analysis. The results will be compared to similar measurements that have been performed continuously at the SMEAR II station in Hyytiälä, central Finland, during the last few years. The investigation will be completed by comprehensive data analysis and modelling activities with regard of the formation and growth of forest aerosols and their climatic forcing.

Research Leader: Prof. Veli-Matti Kerminen, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Sahaajankatu 20 E, 00880 Helsinki, 09-1929 5501/050-342 7380/09-1929 5403, veli-matti.kerminen(at)fmi.fi, www.fmi.fi

Researchers:
Markku Kulmala, University of Helsinki, markku.kulmala(at)helsinki.fi
Risto Hillamo, Finnish Meteorological Institute, risto.hillamo(at)fmi.fi
Aki Virkkula, Finnish Meteorological Institute, aki.virkkula(at)fmi.fi
Kari Lehtinen, University of Helsinki, kari.lehtinen(at)helsinki.fi
Kimmo Teinilä, Finnish Meteorological Institute, kimmo.teinila(at)fmi.fi
Tuukka Petäjä, University of Helsinki, tuukka.petaja(at)helsinki.fi
Miikka Dal Maso, University of Helsinki, miikka.dal(at)helsinki.fi

Project description