Project Grant 2230350

This three-year, $627,411 project grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Polar Programs, under the Polar Programs federal grant program (CFDA 47.078), will support research on recent changes in Arctic biogenic sulfur aerosols through analysis of a central Greenland ice core. The University of Washington, as prime awardee, will collaborate with the University of St. Andrews to measure the concentrations and sulfur isotope compositions of methane sulfonic acid and sulfate in Greenland snow and ice cores accumulated over the last 30 years and earlier. This will help distinguish ocean biological and other sources of these sulfur compounds and investigate how their seasonal patterns may have changed with Arctic climate change and declining anthropogenic emissions. Two graduate students will receive training in ice core processing, chemical analysis, global modeling, and international collaboration. Outreach activities are planned to engage students. Results will advance understanding of climate feedbacks from biogenic sulfur aerosols in the Arctic and future projections.