Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3809
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3809
15 Aug 2025
 | 15 Aug 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).

Measurement report: New particle formation and aerosol properties at a newly founded atmospheric observatory at the Finnish Baltic Sea coast

Maija Peltola, Roseline Thakur, Kurt Spence, Janne Lampilahti, Ronja Mäkelä, Sasu Karttunen, Ekaterina Ezhova, Sami Haapanala, Aki Vähä, Juha Kangasluoma, Tommy Chan, Pauli Paasonen, Joanna Norkko, Alf Norkko, Markku Kulmala, and Mikael Ehn

Abstract. Aerosol formation is an important contributor to climate in different environments. Coastal ecosystems are of special interest, since their habitat types and species can be highly diverse which can lead to high variability in fluxes of aerosol precursor vapours. Here, we present the first results from an atmospheric observatory established in 2022 at the Tvärminne Zoological Station (TZS) on the southern coast of Finland as a part of the Centre for Coastal Ecosystem and Climate Change Research (CoastClim). This work is focused on new particle formation (NPF) and how it is influenced by the coastal environment. NPF occurred at TZS roughly as often as at the well-established boreal forest site Hyytiälä, 230 km north-north-east of TZS. However, only one-third of the events occurred during the same days at both stations. Similarly to Hyytiälä, NPF events were most likely to be observed when clean air masses from the Norwegian Sea pass over the boreal forest region. To understand the special characteristics of aerosol formation at the coast, we also studied local intermediate ion formation (LIIF), which can tell us about aerosol formation potential in the vicinity of the measurement site. LIIF was more abundant over the continent compared to the marine sector and it was favoured by low condensation sink and sunny dry conditions. This study presents an overview of aerosol size distributions at TZS and provides a basis for future work, which will aim to understand the sources of coastal aerosol precursors and their links to coastal ecology and biogeochemistry.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Share
Maija Peltola, Roseline Thakur, Kurt Spence, Janne Lampilahti, Ronja Mäkelä, Sasu Karttunen, Ekaterina Ezhova, Sami Haapanala, Aki Vähä, Juha Kangasluoma, Tommy Chan, Pauli Paasonen, Joanna Norkko, Alf Norkko, Markku Kulmala, and Mikael Ehn

Status: open (until 26 Sep 2025)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-3809', Anonymous Referee #1, 21 Aug 2025 reply
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-3809', Anonymous Referee #2, 04 Sep 2025 reply
Maija Peltola, Roseline Thakur, Kurt Spence, Janne Lampilahti, Ronja Mäkelä, Sasu Karttunen, Ekaterina Ezhova, Sami Haapanala, Aki Vähä, Juha Kangasluoma, Tommy Chan, Pauli Paasonen, Joanna Norkko, Alf Norkko, Markku Kulmala, and Mikael Ehn

Data sets

Dataset for Measurement report: New particle formation and aerosol properties at a newly founded atmospheric observatory at the Finnish Baltic Sea coast M. Peltola et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16693683

Maija Peltola, Roseline Thakur, Kurt Spence, Janne Lampilahti, Ronja Mäkelä, Sasu Karttunen, Ekaterina Ezhova, Sami Haapanala, Aki Vähä, Juha Kangasluoma, Tommy Chan, Pauli Paasonen, Joanna Norkko, Alf Norkko, Markku Kulmala, and Mikael Ehn

Viewed

Total article views: 1,283 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
1,248 29 6 1,283 11 17
  • HTML: 1,248
  • PDF: 29
  • XML: 6
  • Total: 1,283
  • BibTeX: 11
  • EndNote: 17
Views and downloads (calculated since 15 Aug 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 15 Aug 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 1,195 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 1,195 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 04 Sep 2025
Download
Short summary
Here we report aerosol properties from a new atmospheric observatory established at the Finnish Baltic Sea Coast. Aerosol formation was observed when air masses crossed over the continent whereas less newly formed particles were observed when the winds were from the sea. Aerosol formation was favoured by low condensation sink and sunny dry conditions.
Share