Particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events: implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growth
This study examines the hygroscopicity of newly formed particles (diameters range 25–45 nm) during two atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) events in the German mid-level mountains during the Hill Cap Cloud Thuringia 2010 (HCCT-2010) field experiment. At the end of the NPF event involving clear...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2013-07-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/6637/2013/acp-13-6637-2013.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811194460464218112 |
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| author | Z. Wu W. Birmili L. Poulain L. Poulain M. Merkel B. Fahlbusch D. van Pinxteren H. Herrmann A. Wiedensohler |
| author_facet | Z. Wu W. Birmili L. Poulain L. Poulain M. Merkel B. Fahlbusch D. van Pinxteren H. Herrmann A. Wiedensohler |
| author_sort | Z. Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the hygroscopicity of newly formed particles (diameters range 25–45 nm) during two atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) events in the German mid-level mountains during the Hill Cap Cloud Thuringia 2010 (HCCT-2010) field experiment. At the end of the NPF event involving clear particle growth, we measured an unusually high soluble particle fraction of 58.5% at 45 nm particle size. The particle growth rate contributed through sulfuric acid condensation only accounts for around 6.5% of the observed growth rate. Estimations showed that sulfuric acid condensation explained, however, only around 10% of that soluble particle fraction. Therefore, the formation of additional water-soluble matter appears imperative to explain the missing soluble fraction. Although direct evidence is missing, we consider water-soluble organics as candidates for this mechanism. For the case with clear growth process, the particle growth rate was determined by two alternative methods based on tracking the mode diameter of the nucleation mode. The mean particle growth rate obtained from the inter-site data comparison using Lagrangian consideration is 3.8 (± 2.6) nm h<sup>−1</sup>. During the same period, the growth rate calculated based on one site data is 5.0 nm h<sup>−1</sup> using log-normal distribution function method. In light of the fact that considerable uncertainties could be involved in both methods, we consider both estimated growth rates consistent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:27:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3249a1fabad04cbaa51bff8b77cd2ba9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:27:37Z |
| publishDate | 2013-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-3249a1fabad04cbaa51bff8b77cd2ba92022-12-22T03:55:27ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242013-07-0113136637664610.5194/acp-13-6637-2013Particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events: implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growthZ. WuW. BirmiliL. PoulainL. PoulainM. MerkelB. FahlbuschD. van PinxterenH. HerrmannA. WiedensohlerThis study examines the hygroscopicity of newly formed particles (diameters range 25–45 nm) during two atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) events in the German mid-level mountains during the Hill Cap Cloud Thuringia 2010 (HCCT-2010) field experiment. At the end of the NPF event involving clear particle growth, we measured an unusually high soluble particle fraction of 58.5% at 45 nm particle size. The particle growth rate contributed through sulfuric acid condensation only accounts for around 6.5% of the observed growth rate. Estimations showed that sulfuric acid condensation explained, however, only around 10% of that soluble particle fraction. Therefore, the formation of additional water-soluble matter appears imperative to explain the missing soluble fraction. Although direct evidence is missing, we consider water-soluble organics as candidates for this mechanism. For the case with clear growth process, the particle growth rate was determined by two alternative methods based on tracking the mode diameter of the nucleation mode. The mean particle growth rate obtained from the inter-site data comparison using Lagrangian consideration is 3.8 (± 2.6) nm h<sup>−1</sup>. During the same period, the growth rate calculated based on one site data is 5.0 nm h<sup>−1</sup> using log-normal distribution function method. In light of the fact that considerable uncertainties could be involved in both methods, we consider both estimated growth rates consistent.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/6637/2013/acp-13-6637-2013.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Z. Wu W. Birmili L. Poulain L. Poulain M. Merkel B. Fahlbusch D. van Pinxteren H. Herrmann A. Wiedensohler Particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events: implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growth Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events: implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growth |
| title_full | Particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events: implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growth |
| title_fullStr | Particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events: implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events: implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growth |
| title_short | Particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events: implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growth |
| title_sort | particle hygroscopicity during atmospheric new particle formation events implications for the chemical species contributing to particle growth |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/6637/2013/acp-13-6637-2013.pdf |
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