1994 Arctic Ocean Section
C2C6 Hydrocarbons
Peter C. Brickell and Jan W. Bottenheim
In recent years there has been growing concern about hu-
man impact on the high Arctic regions. Light hydrocarbons
(C2C6) in the environment include species that are primari-
ly anthropogenic (for example, acetylene) and those that are
primarily biogenic in origin (for example, isoprene). These
species are of concern in the troposphere because they play a
major role in ground-level ozone formation in urban and urban-
impacted regions. The study of the light hydrocarbon com-
position of the high Arctic troposphere can provide one more
indication of human impact on the region. In addition, the
study of light hydrocarbons in background environments can
lead to a better understanding of photochemical reaction path-
ways occurring in these and other more polluted locations.
The high Arctic environment is generally free of the myriad
of local and regional anthropogenic hydrocarbon sources that
complicate the study of hydrocarbon photochemistry in southern continental
The aft port bridge
of the Polar Sea,
regions.
showing the triple-
The goals of the light hydrocarbon measurement program during AOS-94
headed air sampling
manifold leading
were to:
into a rear window
Develop a reference light hydrocarbon database for the very high latitudes
of the bridge super-
in summer;
structure.
Compare these data with those previously taken from land-based sites in
the high Arctic (for example, Barrow, Alaska; Alert, N.W.T., Canada; and
the Norwegian Arctic);
Look for evidence of unusual patterns of chemical processes in the Arctic
troposphere; and
Investigate the levels and patterns of anthropogenic light hydrocarbons at
very high latitudes and compare these with the levels of other anthropo-
genic tracers measured during AOS-94.
Air for light hydrocarbon analysis was sampled in two ways. We collected
air in electropolished stainless steel canisters using a battery-powered pump,
Peter Brickell and Jan Bottenheim are with the Atmospheric Environment Service in Downsview, Ontario,
Canada.
70
Previous Page
