Seasonal variation of some constituents of Antarctic tropospheric air

The interior of Antarctica is dominated by the continental Antarctic [cA] air mass, which resides entirely on the antarctic ice, and only receives heat, moisture and particles by exchange with surrounding air masses. The concentrations of carbon dioxide, total aerosol, and soot aerosol do not vary coincidentally in this air mass during antarctic spring. A hypothesis describing the modification of these properties within the cA air mass through exchange with the surrounding air masses and variation of the source strength of marine aerosol in maritime polar air masses is proposed.