The polar atmosphere is characterized by high stability and a the strong thermal inversion that occurs in these regions (the temperature increases with increasing altitude with respect to the ground, as opposed to what happens at mid-latitudes), both phenomena are a consequence of the almost perpetually frozen ground that is often covered with snow and ice. This also applies to the frozen surface of the sea, when covered by ice.
Another important element of the polar atmosphere is the presence of the so-called polar vortex, a swirling motion of the air masses around the pole that keeps the cold polar air masses separate from the warmer ones in mid-latitudes.
Knowledge of the thermodynamic characteristics of the polar atmosphere is fundamental studying the biogeochemical cycles of natural species and long-distance transport processes of atmospheric components from populated areas.
The research activities carried out at ISP are aimed to deepen the knowledge of the processes and the interactions between the different components of the climate system, in particular at the interfaces air-snow-soil and air-sea-sea ice.
Atmospheric composition
The polar regions represent an open laboratory to study the biogeochemical cycles of natural species, the atmospheric chemical transformations in an uncontaminated continent, as well as the transport processes from the middle and low latitudes. Several constituents characterize the atmospheric composition, among which the so-called greenhouse gases (such as water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane whose concentrations are influenced by anthropogenic activities and natural processes), and aerosols are of considerable importance. The latter have a major impact in the polar regions because they are strongly linked to the feedback processes that amplify climate change.
The atmospheric aerosol is composed of particles suspended in the atmosphere, which can be of natural origin (through the lifting by winds of particles from bare or desert surfaces, of marine spumes and of volcanic origin or linked to large fires) or anthropogenic (industrial and fuel emissions). The study of the chemical composition of Antarctic and Arctic aerosols is one of the key points in polar research. These studies are performed through the use of specific chemical tracers, such as water-soluble components, organic acids, sugars, phenolic compounds, amino acids, trace elements or rare earths. Aerosol plays an important role in climate regulation by interacting with solar radiation and modifying the microphysical properties of clouds.
