scholarly journals New Particle Formation at a High Altitude Site in India: Impact of Fresh Emissions and Long Range Transport

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vyoma Singla ◽  
Subrata Mukherjee ◽  
Adam Kristensson ◽  
Govindan Pandithurai ◽  
Kundan K. Dani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Western India ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Inorganic Species

Abstract. There is a lack of characterization of the aerosol population in Western India, how it is affected by meteorological parameters, and new particle formation and the influence on cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). For this reason, measurements of particle number size distribution, aerosol chemical composition, meteorology and cloud condensation nuclei number concentration were monitored at High Altitude Cloud Physics Laboratory (HACPL) in Mahabaleshwar mountain town in Western India between November 2016 and February 2017. Most air masses in this period originated from the Indian continent to the north-east of HACPL. New particle formation (NPF) events were observed on 47 days and mainly associated with these north-easterly air masses and high SO2 emissions and biomass burning activities, while weaker or non-NPF days were associated with westerly air masses and relatively higher influence of local air pollution. The growth of newly formed particles enhanced the mass concentration of secondary organic and inorganic species of aerosol particles. The mean growth rate, formation rate, condensation sink and coagulation loss for the 13 strongest events was found to be 2.58 ± 0.38 nm h−1, 2.82 ± 1.37 cm−3 s−1, 22.3 ± 2.87 * 10-3 s−1 and 1.62 ± 1.04 cm−3 s−1 respectively. A closer examination of 5 events showed that low relative humidity and solar radiation favoured new particle formation. These NPF events lead to a significant increase in CCN concentration (mean ~ 53 ± 36 %). The NanoMap method revealed that NPF took place up to several hundred kilometers upwind and to the north-east of HACPL.

scholarly journals Hygroscopic properties and cloud condensation nuclei activity of atmospheric aerosols under the influences of Asian continental outflow and new particle formation at a coastal site in eastern Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 5911-5922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hing Cho Cheung ◽  
Charles Chung-Kuang Chou ◽  
Celine Siu Lan Lee ◽  
Wei-Chen Kuo ◽  
Shuenn-Chin Chang
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Hygroscopic Properties ◽  
Aerosol Hygroscopicity

Abstract. The chemical composition of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the size distribution and number concentration of aerosol particles (NCN), and the number concentration of cloud condensation nuclei (NCCN) were measured at the northern tip of Taiwan during an intensive observation experiment from April 2017 to March 2018. The parameters of aerosol hygroscopicity (i.e., activation ratio, activation diameter and kappa of CCN) were retrieved from the measurements. Significant variations were found in the hygroscopicity of aerosols (kappa – κ – of 0.18–0.56, for water vapor supersaturation – SS – of 0.12 %–0.80 %), which were subject to various pollution sources, including aged air pollutants originating in eastern and northern China and transported by the Asian continental outflows and fresh particles emitted from local sources and distributed by land–sea breeze circulations as well as produced by processes of new particle formation (NPF). Cluster analysis was applied to the back trajectories of air masses to investigate their respective source regions. The results showed that aerosols associated with Asian continental outflows were characterized by lower NCN and NCCN values and by higher kappa values of CCN, whereas higher NCN and NCCN values with lower kappa values of CCN were observed in the aerosols associated with local air masses. Besides, it was revealed that the kappa value of CCN exhibited a decrease during the early stage of an event of new particle formation, which turned to an increasing trend over the later period. The distinct features in the hygroscopicity of aerosols were found to be consistent with the characteristics in the chemical composition of PM2.5. This study has depicted a clear seasonal characteristic of hygroscopicity and CCN activity under the influence of a complex mixture of pollutants from different regional and/or local pollution sources. Nevertheless, the mixing state and chemical composition of the aerosols critically influence the aerosol hygroscopicity, and further investigations are necessary to elucidate the atmospheric processing involved in the CCN activation in coastal areas.

scholarly journals Wintertime new particle formation and its contribution to cloud condensation nuclei in the Northeastern United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 2591-2601
Author(s):  
Fangqun Yu ◽  
Gan Luo ◽  
Arshad Arjunan Nair ◽  
James J. Schwab ◽  
James P. Sherman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Inorganic Species

Abstract. Atmospheric particles can act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and modify cloud properties and precipitation and thus indirectly impact the hydrological cycle and climate. New particle formation (NPF or nucleation), frequently observed at locations around the globe, is an important source of ultrafine particles and CCN in the atmosphere. In this study, wintertime NPF over the Northeastern United States (NEUS) is simulated with WRF-Chem coupled with a size-resolved (sectional) advanced particle microphysics (APM) model. Model-simulated variations in particle number concentrations during a 2-month period (November–December 2013) are in agreement with corresponding measurements taken at Pinnacle State Park (PSP), New York, and Appalachian State University (APP), North Carolina. We show that, even during wintertime, regional nucleation occurs and contributes significantly to ultrafine-particle and CCN number concentrations over the NEUS. The model shows that, due to low biogenic emissions during this period, wintertime regional nucleation is solely controlled by inorganic species and the newly developed ternary ion-mediated nucleation scheme is able to capture the variations in observed particle number concentrations (ranging from ∼200 to 20 000 cm−3) at both PSP and APP. Total particle and CCN number concentrations dramatically increase following NPF events and have the highest values over the Ohio Valley region, where elevated [SO2] is sustained by power plants. Secondary particles dominate particle number abundance over the NEUS, and their fraction increases with altitude from ≳85 % near the surface to ≳95 % in the upper troposphere. The secondary fraction of CCN also increases with altitude, from 20 %–50 % in the lower boundary layer to 50 %–60 % in the middle troposphere to 70 %–85 % in the upper troposphere.

scholarly journals Wintertime New Particle Formation and Its Contribution to Cloud Condensation Nuclei in the Northeastern United States

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangqun Yu ◽  
Gan Luo ◽  
Arshad Nair ◽  
James J. Schwab ◽  
James P. Sherman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Inorganic Species

Abstract. Atmospheric particles can act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and modify cloud properties and precipitation and thus indirectly impact the hydrological cycle and climate. New particle formation (NPF or nucleation), frequently observed at locations around the globe, is an important source of ultrafine particles and CCN in the atmosphere. In this study, wintertime NPF over the Northeastern United States (NEUS) is simulated with WRF-Chem coupled with a size-resolved (sectional) advanced particle microphysics (APM) model. Model simulated variations of particle number concentrations during a two-month period (November–December 2013) are in agreement with corresponding measurements taken at Pinnacle State Park (PSP), New York and Appalachian State University (APP), North Carolina. We show that even during wintertime, regional nucleation occurs and contributes significantly to ultrafine particle and CCN number concentrations over the NEUS. Due to low biogenic emissions during this period, wintertime regional nucleation is solely controlled by inorganic species and the newly developed ternary ion-mediated nucleation scheme is able to capture the variations of observed particle number concentrations (ranging from ~ 200–20 000 cm−3) at both PSP and APP. Total particle and CCN number concentrations dramatically increase following NPF events and have highest values over the Ohio Valley region, where elevated [SO2] is sustained by power plants. Secondary particles dominate particle number abundance over the NEUS and their fraction increases with altitude from > ~ 85 % near surface to > ~ 95 % in the upper troposphere. The secondary fraction of CCN also increases with altitude, from 20–50 % in the lower boundary layer to 50–60 % in the middle troposphere to 70–85 % in the upper troposphere. This significant contribution of wintertime nucleation to aerosols, especially those that can act as CCN, is important considering the changing paradigm of wintertime precipitation over the NEUS.

A large source of cloud condensation nuclei from new particle formation in the tropics

Nature ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 574 (7778) ◽  
pp. 399-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina J. Williamson ◽  
Agnieszka Kupc ◽  
Duncan Axisa ◽  
Kelsey R. Bilsback ◽  
ThaoPaul Bui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Large Source ◽  
The Tropics

scholarly journals Production of “potential” cloud condensation nuclei associated with atmospheric new-particle formation in northern Finland

2003 ◽  
Vol 108 (D24) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lihavainen ◽  
V.-M. Kerminen ◽  
M. Komppula ◽  
J. Hatakka ◽  
V. Aaltonen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Condensation Nuclei

scholarly journals Cold oceans enhance terrestrial new-particle formation in near-coastal forests

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
pp. 8639-8650 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Suni ◽  
L. Sogacheva ◽  
J. Lauros ◽  
H. Hakola ◽  
J. Bäck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Coastal Forests ◽  
Organic Precursor ◽  
North East ◽  
The North

Abstract. The world's forests produce atmospheric aerosol by emitting volatile organic compounds (VOC) which, after being oxidized in the atmosphere, readily condense on the omnipresent nanometer-sized nuclei and grow them to climatically relevant sizes. The cooling effect of aerosols is the greatest uncertainty in current climate models and estimates of radiative forcing. Therefore, identifying the environmental factors influencing the biogenic formation of aerosols is crucial. In this paper, we connected biogenic aerosol formation events observed in a Eucalypt forest in South-East Australia during July 2005–December 2006 to air mass history using 96-h back trajectories. Formation of new particles was most frequent in the dry westerly and south-westerly air masses. According to NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) measurements, photosynthesis was not significantly higher in this direction compared to the north-east direction. It is unlikely, therefore, that differences in photosynthesis-derived organic precursor emissions would have been significant enough to lead to the clear difference in NPF frequency between these two directions. Instead, the high evaporation rates above the Pacific Ocean resulted in humid winds from the north-east that effectively suppressed new-particle formation in the forest hundreds of kilometers inland. No other factor varied as significantly in tune with new-particle formation as humidity and we concluded that, in addition to local meteorological factors in the forest, the magnitude of evaporation from oceans hundreds of kilometers upwind can effectively suppress or enhance new-particle formation. Our findings indicate that, unlike warm waters, the cold polar oceans provide excellent clean and dry background air that enhances aerosol formation above near-coastal forests in Fennoscandia and South-East Australia.

scholarly journals Impact of aerosol–radiation interaction on new particle formation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 9995-10004
Author(s):  
Gang Zhao ◽  
Yishu Zhu ◽  
Zhijun Wu ◽  
Taomou Zong ◽  
Jingchuan Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Altitudes

Abstract. New particle formation (NPF) is thought to contribute half of the global cloud condensation nuclei. A better understanding of the NPF at different altitudes can help assess the impact of NPF on cloud formation and corresponding physical properties. However, NPF is not sufficiently understood in the upper mixing layer because previous studies mainly focused on ground-level measurements. In this study, the developments of aerosol size distribution at different altitudes are characterized based on the field measurement conducted in January 2019 in Beijing, China. We find that the partition of nucleation-mode particles in the upper mixing layer is larger than that at the ground, which implies that the nucleation processing is more likely to happen in the upper mixing layer than that at the ground. Results of the radiative transfer model show that the photolysis rates of the nitrogen dioxide and ozone increase with altitude within the mixing layer, which leads to a higher concentration of sulfuric acid in the upper mixing layer than that at the ground. Therefore, the nucleation processing in the upper mixing layer should be stronger than that at the ground, which is consistent with our measurement results. Our study emphasizes the influence of aerosol–radiation interaction on the NPF. These results have the potential to improve our understanding of the source of cloud condensation nuclei on a global scale due to the impacts of aerosol–radiation interaction.

scholarly journals New particle formation events observed at King Sejong Station, Antarctic Peninsula – Part 1: Physical characteristics and contribution to cloud condensation nuclei

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaeseok Kim ◽  
Young Jun Yoon ◽  
Yeontae Gim ◽  
Jin Hee Choi ◽  
Hyo Jin Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Weddell Sea ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Source Rate ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. The physical characteristics of aerosol particles during a particle burst observed at King Sejong Station in Antarctic Peninsula from March 2009 to December 2016 were analyzed. This study focuses on the seasonal variation in parameters related to particle formation such as the occurrence, formation rate (FR) and growth rate (GR), condensation sink (CS), and source rate of condensable vapor. The number concentrations during new particle formation (NPF) events varied from 1707 cm−3 to 83 120 cm−3, with an average of 20 649 ± 9290 cm−3, and the duration of the NPF events ranged from 0.6 h to 14.4 h, with a mean of 4.6 ± 1.5 h. The NPF event dominantly occurred during austral summer period (~ 72 %). The mean values of FR and GR of the aerosol particles were 2.79 ± 1.05 cm−3 s−1 and 0.68 ± 0.27 nm h−1, respectively showing enhanced rates in the summer season. The mean value of FR at King Sejong Station was higher than that at other sites in Antarctica, at 0.002–0.3 cm−3 s−1, while those of growth rates was relatively similar results observed by precious studies, at 0.4~4.3 nm h−1. The average values of CS and source rate of condensable vapor were (6.04 ± 2.74) × 10−3 s−1 and (5.19 ± 3.51) × 104 cm−3 s−1, respectively. The contribution of particle formation to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentration was also investigated. The CCN concentration during the NPF period increased approximately 9 % compared with the background concentration. In addition, the effects of the origin and pathway of air masses on the characteristics of aerosol particles during a NPF event were determined. The FRs were similar regardless of the origin and pathway, whereas the GRs of particles originating from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Bellingshausen Sea, at 0.77 ± 0.25 nm h−1 and 0.76 ± 0.30 nm h−1, respectively, were higher than those of particles originating from the Weddell Sea (0.41 ± 0.15 nm h−1).

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