Size Distributions of Asteroidal Dust: Possible Constraints on Impact Strengths

1996 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
pp. 473-476
Author(s):  
Daniel D. Durda ◽  
Stanley F. Dermott

AbstractWe present results of a numerical collisional model which shows that the slope index of the equilibrium size distribution is dependent upon the size-strength scaling properties of the colliding bodies. This implies that individual asteroid families or distinct taxonomic classes within the mainbelt asteroid population may evolve different equilibrium size distributions. Well constrained observations of the size distribution over particular size ranges may allow constraints to be placed on the impact strengths of particles much larger or smaller than are capable of being measured in laboratory impact experiments.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 6561-6577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Ramnarine ◽  
John K. Kodros ◽  
Anna L. Hodshire ◽  
Chantelle R. Lonsdale ◽  
Matthew J. Alvarado ◽  
...  

Abstract. Biomass burning is a significant global source of aerosol number and mass. In fresh biomass burning plumes, aerosol coagulation reduces aerosol number and increases the median size of aerosol size distributions, impacting aerosol radiative effects. Near-source biomass burning aerosol coagulation occurs at spatial scales much smaller than the grid boxes of global and many regional models. To date, these models have ignored sub-grid coagulation and instantly mixed fresh biomass burning emissions into coarse grid boxes. A previous study found that the rate of particle growth by coagulation within an individual smoke plume can be approximated using the aerosol mass emissions rate, initial size distribution median diameter and modal width, plume mixing depth, and wind speed. In this paper, we use this parameterization of sub-grid coagulation in the GEOS-Chem–TOMAS (TwO-Moment Aerosol Sectional) global aerosol microphysics model to quantify the impacts on global aerosol size distributions, the direct radiative effect, and the cloud-albedo aerosol indirect effect. We find that inclusion of biomass burning sub-grid coagulation reduces the biomass burning impact on the number concentration of particles larger than 80 nm (a proxy for CCN-sized particles) by 37 % globally. This cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) reduction causes our estimated global biomass burning cloud-albedo aerosol indirect effect to decrease from −76 to −43 mW m−2. Further, as sub-grid coagulation moves mass to sizes with more efficient scattering, including it increases our estimated biomass burning all-sky direct effect from −224 to −231 mW m−2, with assumed external mixing of black carbon and from −188 to −197 mW m−2 and with assumed internal mixing of black carbon with core-shell morphology. However, due to differences in fire and meteorological conditions across regions, the impact of sub-grid coagulation is not globally uniform. We also test the sensitivity of the impact of sub-grid coagulation to two different biomass burning emission inventories to various assumptions about the fresh biomass burning aerosol size distribution and to two different timescales of sub-grid coagulation. The impacts of sub-grid coagulation are qualitatively the same regardless of these assumptions.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Ramnarine ◽  
John K. Kodros ◽  
Anna L. Hodshire ◽  
Chantelle R. Lonsdale ◽  
Matthew J. Alvarado ◽  
...  

Abstract. Biomass burning is a significant global source of aerosol number and mass. In fresh biomass burning plumes, aerosol coagulation reduces aerosol number and increases the median size of aerosol size distributions, impacting aerosol radiative effects. Near-source biomass burning aerosol coagulation occurs at spatial scales much smaller than the grid boxes of global and many regional models. To date, these models ignore sub-grid coagulation and instantly mix fresh biomass burning emissions into coarse grid boxes. A previous study found that the rate of particle growth by coagulation within an individual smoke plume can be approximated using the aerosol mass emissions rate, initial size distribution median diameter and modal width, plume mixing depth, and wind speed. In this paper, we use this parameterization of sub-grid coagulation in the GEOS-Chem-TOMAS global aerosol microphysics model to quantify the impacts on global aerosol size distributions, the direct radiative effect, and the cloud-albedo aerosol indirect effect. We find that inclusion of biomass burning sub-grid coagulation reduces the biomass burning impact on the number concentration of particles larger than 80 nm (a proxy for CCN-sized particles) by 37 % globally. This CCN reduction causes our estimated global biomass burning cloud-albedo aerosol indirect effect to decrease from −76 to −43 mW m−2. Further, as sub-grid coagulation moves mass to sizes with more efficient scattering, including it increases our estimated biomass burning all-sky direct effect from −224 to −231 mW m−2 with assumed external mixing and from −188 to −197 mW m−2 with assumed internal mixing with core-shell morphology. However, due to differences in fire and meteorological conditions across regions, the impact of sub-grid coagulation is not globally uniform. We also test the sensitivity of the impact of sub-grid coagulation to two different biomass burning emission inventories, to various assumptions about the fresh biomass burning aerosol size distribution, and to two different timescales of sub-grid coagulation. The impacts of sub-grid coagulation are qualitatively the same regardless of these assumptions.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard Matas ◽  
Nieves Lantada ◽  
Jordi Corominas ◽  
Josep Antoni Gili ◽  
Roger Ruiz-Carulla ◽  
...  

<p>Consideration of fragmentation during rockfalls is relevant for the assessment of hazard since it affects the number of generated blocks, their trajectories and impact energies, which also depends on the topography. Recently many scholars have paid attention to these phenomena since there are still many uncertainties around fragmentation regarding how mass and energy are distributed after fragmentation and how trajectory dispersion affects risk analysis. We developed a specific fragmentation model (Rockfall Fractal Fragmentation Model), as well as a 3D trajectory simulator called RockGIS with the fragmentation module implemented. In this contribution, we present the calibration of our rockfall trajectory simulator, based on real scale fragmentation tests performed on a quarry.</p><p>The RockGIS model considers a lumped mass approach and accounts block fragmentation upon impact with the terrain. Some improvements have been made on the simulator code regarding the consideration of rotation inside the kinematics of the model and restitution factors. The block size distributions obtained from natural rockfall events inventoried, as well as from the real scale fragmentation tests in a quarry, shows a fractal behaviour. On this way, the fractal fragmentation model implemented in the RockGIS simulator is able to reproduce the observed block size distributions.</p><p>To calibrate the model we used data gathered from a real scale rockfall test performed in a quarry. We calibrate the relations between the impact energy conditions and the fragmentation model parameters to generate the measured fragments size distribution. The initial volume of the tested blocks were measured manually using a tape and the release positions of the blocks were obtained with terrestrial photogrammetry. Both, the volume and spatial distribution of the fragments after each release were measured on the orthophotos obtained from UAV flights. Three calibration criteria were considered: runout distribution, volume distribution and cumulative volume as a function of the runout. Finally, the degree of fragmentation can be adjusted in the simulations allowing the comparison between different possible hazard scenarios (null, moderate, or severe fragmentation).</p><p>Finally, the results of the calibration shows that the RockGIS is able to reproduce the fragmentation behaviour in terms of block size distribution after breakage, as well as the spatial propagation, being a new tool with capabilities to assess the hazard related with fragmental rockfalls and the consequently risk associated.</p><p><span>The RockGIS tool and the fragmentation model based on the data collected from recent rockfall events have been developed within the RockRisk (2014-2016, BIA2013-42582-P) and RockModels (2016-2019, BIA2016-75668-P, AEI/FEDER, UE) projects. Both projects were funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad.</span></p>


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 11781-11793 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Viskari ◽  
E. Asmi ◽  
A. Virkkula ◽  
P. Kolmonen ◽  
T. Petäjä ◽  
...  

Abstract. Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is used to estimate particle size distributions from observations. The focus here is on the practical application of EKF to simultaneously merge information from different types of experimental instruments. Every 10 min, the prior state estimate is updated with size-segregating measurements from Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS) and Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) as well as integrating measurements from a nephelometer. Error covariances are approximate in our EKF implementation. The observation operator assumes a constant particle density and refractive index. The state estimates are compared to particle size distributions that are a composite of DMPS and APS measurements. The impact of each instrument on the size distribution estimate is studied. Kalman Filtering of DMPS and APS yielded a temporally consistent state estimate. This state estimate is continuous over the overlapping size range of DMPS and APS. Inclusion of the integrating measurements further reduces the effect of measurement noise. Even with the present approximations, EKF is shown to be a very promising method to estimate particle size distribution with observations from different types of instruments.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1633-1646 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Sakamoto ◽  
J. D. Allan ◽  
H. Coe ◽  
J. W. Taylor ◽  
T. J. Duck ◽  
...  

Abstract. Biomass-burning aerosols contribute to aerosol radiative forcing on the climate system. The magnitude of this effect is partially determined by aerosol size distributions, which are functions of source fire characteristics (e.g. fuel type, MCE) and in-plume microphysical processing. The uncertainties in biomass-burning emission number–size distributions in climate model inventories lead to uncertainties in the CCN (cloud condensation nuclei) concentrations and forcing estimates derived from these models. The BORTAS-B (Quantifying the impact of BOReal forest fires on Tropospheric oxidants over the Atlantic using Aircraft and Satellite) measurement campaign was designed to sample boreal biomass-burning outflow over eastern Canada in the summer of 2011. Using these BORTAS-B data, we implement plume criteria to isolate the characteristic size distribution of aged biomass-burning emissions (aged ~ 1–2 days) from boreal wildfires in northwestern Ontario. The composite median size distribution yields a single dominant accumulation mode with Dpm = 230 nm (number-median diameter) and σ = 1.5, which are comparable to literature values of other aged plumes of a similar type. The organic aerosol enhancement ratios (ΔOA / ΔCO) along the path of Flight b622 show values of 0.09–0.17 μg m−3 ppbv−1 (parts per billion by volume) with no significant trend with distance from the source. This lack of enhancement ratio increase/decrease with distance suggests no detectable net OA (organic aerosol) production/evaporation within the aged plume over the sampling period (plume age: 1–2 days), though it does not preclude OA production/loss at earlier stages. A Lagrangian microphysical model was used to determine an estimate of the freshly emitted size distribution corresponding to the BORTAS-B aged size distributions. The model was restricted to coagulation and dilution processes based on the insignificant net OA production/evaporation derived from the ΔOA / ΔCO enhancement ratios. We estimate that the young-plume median diameter was in the range of 59–94 nm with modal widths in the range of 1.7–2.8 (the ranges are due to uncertainty in the entrainment rate). Thus, the size of the freshly emitted particles is relatively unconstrained due to the uncertainties in the plume dilution rates.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier Voisin ◽  
Julien Witwicky ◽  
François Tuzet ◽  
Dimitri Osmont ◽  
Marie Dumont

<p><span>Snow contain many insoluble particles, some of which can absorb light (such as mineral dust and black carbon) and are responsible for a large climate forcing, both directly through their influence on snow albedo and indirectly by inducing snow metamorphism – albedo feedbacks.</span></p><p><span>Light absorbing particles (LAPs) influence snow metamorphism and melting by changing the heat distribution in the snowpack. Conversely, some physical processes in snow influence the size distribution of LAPs in the snowpack: for example, melting partially redistributes the particles and dry metamorphism can induce vertical movement of particles. Yet<!-- -->, few studies investigate those couplings due to the scarcity of detailed physical and chemical characterization of snow.</span></p><p> <span>During two consecutive winters, such detailed characterization of snow was conducted at a high altitude site in the Alps (col du Lautaret, 2058m a.s.l.). The physical properties used here include detailed profiles of snow types enabling to investigate links between LAPs size distribution and snow evolution. </span></p><p><span>Size distributions analysis shows that for both black carbon (BC) and mineral </span><span>dust</span><span>, con</span><span>centrations are often underestimated due to a significant fraction of particles being too big to be detected by the instruments</span><span>.</span><span> The median value of this undetected fraction is at least 20% for dust and at least 5% for BC.</span><span> In more than 10% of the samples, </span><span>It</span> <span>even </span><span>exceeds 60% for dust and </span><span>25% </span><span>for BC.</span></p><p><span>We then used stratigraphic data to explore the impact of partial melt and refreeze on LAP size distributions through an hypothetic coagulation mechanism induced by freeze-thaw cycles. No visible effect was found for dust, due to the higher variability of deposited particles size distributions. Conversely, freeze-thaw cycles seem to lead to a slight shift of BC size distributions toward the big particles.</span></p>


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 18889-18925 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Viskari ◽  
E. Asmi ◽  
A. Virkkula ◽  
P. Kolmonen ◽  
T. Petäjä ◽  
...  

Abstract. Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is used to estimate particle size distributions from observations. The focus here is on the practical application of EKF to simultaneously merge information from different types of experimental instruments. Every 10 min, the prior state estimate is updated with size-segregating measurements from Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS) and Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) as well as integrating measurements from a nephelometer. Error covariances are approximate in our EKF implementation. The observation operator assumes a constant particle density and refractive index. The state estimates are compared to particle size distributions that are a composite of DMPS and APS measurements. The impact of each instrument on the size distribution estimate is studied. Kalman Filtering of DMPS and APS yielded a temporally consistent state estimate. This state estimate is continuous over the overlapping size range of DMPS and APS. Inclusion of the integrating measurements further reduces the effect of measurement noise. Even with the present approximations, EKF is shown to be a very promising method to estimate particle size distribution with observations from different types of instruments.


Author(s):  
Weiqi Xu ◽  
Chun Chen ◽  
Yanmei Qiu ◽  
Conghui Xie ◽  
Yunle Chen ◽  
...  

Organic aerosol (OA), a large fraction of fine particles, has a large impact on climate radiative forcing and human health, and the impact depends strongly on size distributions. Here we...


Author(s):  
Mo Ji ◽  
Martin Strangwood ◽  
Claire Davis

AbstractThe effects of Nb addition on the recrystallization kinetics and the recrystallized grain size distribution after cold deformation were investigated by using Fe-30Ni and Fe-30Ni-0.044 wt pct Nb steel with comparable starting grain size distributions. The samples were deformed to 0.3 strain at room temperature followed by annealing at 950 °C to 850 °C for various times; the microstructural evolution and the grain size distribution of non- and fully recrystallized samples were characterized, along with the strain-induced precipitates (SIPs) and their size and volume fraction evolution. It was found that Nb addition has little effect on recrystallized grain size distribution, whereas Nb precipitation kinetics (SIP size and number density) affects the recrystallization Avrami exponent depending on the annealing temperature. Faster precipitation coarsening rates at high temperature (950 °C to 900 °C) led to slower recrystallization kinetics but no change on Avrami exponent, despite precipitation occurring before recrystallization. Whereas a slower precipitation coarsening rate at 850 °C gave fine-sized strain-induced precipitates that were effective in reducing the recrystallization Avrami exponent after 50 pct of recrystallization. Both solute drag and precipitation pinning effects have been added onto the JMAK model to account the effect of Nb content on recrystallization Avrami exponent for samples with large grain size distributions.


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1255-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mayer ◽  
M. Schröder ◽  
R. Preusker ◽  
L. Schüller

Abstract. Cloud single scattering properties are mainly determined by the effective radius of the droplet size distribution. There are only few exceptions where the shape of the size distribution affects the optical properties, in particular the rainbow and the glory directions of the scattering phase function. Using observations by the Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) in 180° backscatter geometry, we found that high angular resolution aircraft observations of the glory provide unique new information which is not available from traditional remote sensing techniques: Using only one single wavelength, 753nm, we were able to determine not only optical thickness and effective radius, but also the width of the size distribution at cloud top. Applying this novel technique to the ACE-2 CLOUDYCOLUMN experiment, we found that the size distributions were much narrower than usually assumed in radiation calculations which is in agreement with in-situ observations during this campaign. While the shape of the size distribution has only little relevance for the radiative properties of clouds, it is extremely important for understanding their formation and evolution.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document