Parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory data

The rate of ice nucleation in clouds is not easily determined and large discrepancies exist between model predictions and actual ice crystal concentration measured in clouds. In an effort to improve the parameterization of ice nucleating in cloud models, we investigate the rate of heterogeneous ice...

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Main Authors: J.-P. Chen, A. Hazra, Z. Levin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2008-12-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/7431/2008/acp-8-7431-2008.pdf
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author J.-P. Chen
A. Hazra
Z. Levin
author_facet J.-P. Chen
A. Hazra
Z. Levin
author_sort J.-P. Chen
collection DOAJ
description The rate of ice nucleation in clouds is not easily determined and large discrepancies exist between model predictions and actual ice crystal concentration measured in clouds. In an effort to improve the parameterization of ice nucleating in cloud models, we investigate the rate of heterogeneous ice nucleation under specific ambient conditions by knowing the sizes as well as two thermodynamic parameters of the ice nuclei – contact angle and activation energy. Laboratory data of freezing and deposition nucleation modes were analyzed to derive inversely the two thermodynamic parameters for a variety of ice nuclei, including mineral dusts, bacteria, pollens, and soot particles. The analysis considered the Zeldovich factor for the adjustment of ice germ formation, as well as the solute and curvature effects on surface tension; the latter effects have strong influence on the contact angle. Contact angle turns out to be a more important factor than the activation energy in discriminating the nucleation capabilities of various ice nuclei species. By extracting these thermodynamic parameters, laboratory results can be converted into a formulation that follows classical nucleation theory, which then has the flexibility of incorporating factors such as the solute effect and curvature effect that were not considered in the experiments. Due to various uncertainties, contact angle and activation energy derived in this study should be regarded as "apparent" thermodynamics parameters.
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spelling doaj.art-296872ce36c348c3b9d86a90ed410fa42022-12-22T03:07:13ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242008-12-0182474317449Parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory dataJ.-P. ChenA. HazraZ. LevinThe rate of ice nucleation in clouds is not easily determined and large discrepancies exist between model predictions and actual ice crystal concentration measured in clouds. In an effort to improve the parameterization of ice nucleating in cloud models, we investigate the rate of heterogeneous ice nucleation under specific ambient conditions by knowing the sizes as well as two thermodynamic parameters of the ice nuclei – contact angle and activation energy. Laboratory data of freezing and deposition nucleation modes were analyzed to derive inversely the two thermodynamic parameters for a variety of ice nuclei, including mineral dusts, bacteria, pollens, and soot particles. The analysis considered the Zeldovich factor for the adjustment of ice germ formation, as well as the solute and curvature effects on surface tension; the latter effects have strong influence on the contact angle. Contact angle turns out to be a more important factor than the activation energy in discriminating the nucleation capabilities of various ice nuclei species. By extracting these thermodynamic parameters, laboratory results can be converted into a formulation that follows classical nucleation theory, which then has the flexibility of incorporating factors such as the solute effect and curvature effect that were not considered in the experiments. Due to various uncertainties, contact angle and activation energy derived in this study should be regarded as "apparent" thermodynamics parameters.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/7431/2008/acp-8-7431-2008.pdf
spellingShingle J.-P. Chen
A. Hazra
Z. Levin
Parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory data
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory data
title_full Parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory data
title_fullStr Parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory data
title_full_unstemmed Parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory data
title_short Parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory data
title_sort parameterizing ice nucleation rates using contact angle and activation energy derived from laboratory data
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/7431/2008/acp-8-7431-2008.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT jpchen parameterizingicenucleationratesusingcontactangleandactivationenergyderivedfromlaboratorydata
AT ahazra parameterizingicenucleationratesusingcontactangleandactivationenergyderivedfromlaboratorydata
AT zlevin parameterizingicenucleationratesusingcontactangleandactivationenergyderivedfromlaboratorydata