Air quality

Leader of the theme: J. Sloan
Contributors: A. Manson, B. McArthur, N. O’Neill, K. Strong, J. McConnell, T. Uttal

ATTAQ identifies and quantifies toxic pollutants entering the Arctic and locates their probable sources. The focus is on pollutants associated with particulate matter because this is the least well understood aspect of the problem. The most dangerous of these include heavy metals and semi-volatile organics, which are retained in the Arctic due to the low temperatures and become concentrated to dangerous levels in the food chain. The major transport mechanisms of these pollutants are being traced using a variety of meteorological and modeling techniques.