“Stratospheric aerosol from above: Laser-ablation mass spectrometer samples polar vortex air for the first time” (Accepted JGR manuscript by G.W. Mann et al., AGU Commentary article on recent JGR article by M. J. Lawler et al., ”The composition and stratospheric fate of aerosol particles originating in the polar vortex”)

The JGR paper by Lawler et al. (2025) marks a significant and historic first, the PALMS single-particle chemical analysis sampling deep stratospheric Arctic vortex air for the first time. The analysis finds ~90% of sulfate aerosol particles in the deepest stratosphere air (100-130 ppb N2O) are meteoric-sulfuric particles, their composition spectra having metal cation peaks strongly indicative of meteoric origin. The research aligns with results from recent European high-altitude aircraft campaigns finding enhanced refractory aerosol in the Arctic vortex and similar laser ablation aerosol mass spectrometer instrument on mid- and low-altitude campaigns measuring the meteoric-sulfuric aerosol. The SABRE-2023 flights were 60 years after impactors on U-2 high-altitude aircraft in January 1963 first found the extensive presence of sub-micron insoluble inclusions within stratospheric sulfate aerosol. We also summarise key related stratospheric aerosol model studies, from early conceptual and 1D stratospheric aerosol models through to today’s generation of 3D interactive stratospheric aerosol composition-climate models. Recent modelling is presented indicating that resolving meteoric smoke has a substantial thinning effect on the simulated background stratospheric aerosol layer, making sulfate particles smaller, and reducing global stratospheric mass burden.