A snow pack source of aldehydes and acetone in West Antarctica between 76 and 90 degrees S

The investigation of snow-atmosphere exchange of many chemical species driven by physical and photochemical processes is key for understanding atmospheric chemistry above snow covered regions and has important implications for ice core interpretation. A number of recent field and modeling studies indicates that a source of aldehydes and ketones exists in polar snowpacks, and the emission of these species may significantly impact organic and HO2 radical levels in the overlying boundary layer. However, most of the studies took place in the northern hemisphere and only few data are available from Antarctica.