scholarly journals Towards parametrising atmospheric concentrations of ice nucleating particles active at moderate supercooling

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Mignani ◽  
Jörg Wieder ◽  
Michael A. Sprenger ◽  
Zamin A. Kanji ◽  
Jan Henneberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations ◽  
Cloud Top Temperature

Abstract. A small fraction of freezing cloud droplets probably initiates much of the precipitation above continents. Only a minute fraction of aerosol particles, so-called ice nucleating particles (INPs), can trigger initial ice formation at −15 °C, a cloud-top temperature frequently associated with snowfall. We found at a mountain top site in the Swiss Alps that concentrations of INPs active at −15 °C are different functions of coarse (> 2 μm) aerosol particle concentrations, depending on whether an air mass is precipitating, non-precipitating, or carrying Saharan dust and non-precipitating. Consequently, we suggest that a parameterisation at moderate supercooling should consider coarse particles in combination with air mass differentiation.

scholarly journals Towards parameterising atmospheric concentrations of ice-nucleating particles active at moderate supercooling

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 657-664
Author(s):  
Claudia Mignani ◽  
Jörg Wieder ◽  
Michael A. Sprenger ◽  
Zamin A. Kanji ◽  
Jan Henneberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
Substantial Fraction ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations

Abstract. A small fraction of freezing cloud droplets probably initiates much of the precipitation above continents. Only a minute fraction of aerosol particles, so-called ice-nucleating particles (INPs), can trigger initial ice formation at −15 ∘C, at which cloud-top temperatures are frequently associated with snowfall. At a mountaintop site in the Swiss Alps, we found that concentrations of INPs active at −15 ∘C can be parameterised by different functions of coarse (> 2 µm) aerosol particle concentrations, depending on whether an air mass is (a) precipitating, (b) non-precipitating, or (c) carrying a substantial fraction of dust particles while non-precipitating. Consequently, we suggest that a parameterisation at moderate supercooling should consider coarse particles in combination with air mass differentiation.

scholarly journals Mineral and biological ice-nucleating particles above the South East of the British Isles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Sanchez-Marroquin ◽  
Jonathan S. West ◽  
Ian Burke ◽  
James B McQuaid ◽  
Benjamin John Murray
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
British Isles ◽  
The South ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Homogeneous Freezing

A small fraction of aerosol particles known as Ice-Nucleating Particles (INPs) have the potential to trigger ice formation in cloud droplets at higher temperatures than homogeneous freezing. INPs can strongly...

scholarly journals Concentrations and fluxes of aerosol particles during the LAPBIAT measurement campaign at Värriö field station

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 3683-3700 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Ruuskanen ◽  
M. Kaasik ◽  
P. P. Aalto ◽  
U. Hõrrak ◽  
M. Vana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kola Peninsula ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Nucleation Event ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Air Ions ◽  
Field Station ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Measurement Campaign

Abstract. The LAPBIAT measurement campaign took place in the Värriö SMEAR I measurement station located in Eastern Lapland in the spring of 2003 between 26 April and 11 May. In this paper we describe the measurement campaign, concentrations and fluxes of aerosol particles, air ions and trace gases, paying special attention to an aerosol particle formation event broken by a air mass change from a clean Arctic air mass with new particle formation to polluted one approaching from industrial areas of Kola Peninsula, Russia, lacking new particle formation. Aerosol particle number flux measurements show strong downward fluxes during that time. Concentrations of coarse aerosol particles were high for 1–2 days before the nucleation event (i.e. 28–29 April), very low immediately before and during the observed aerosol particle formation event (30 April) and increased moderately from the moment of sudden break of the event. In general particle deposition measurements based on snow samples show the same changes. Measurements of the mobility distribution of air ions showed elevated concentrations of intermediate air ions during the particle formation event. We estimated the growth rates in the nucleation mode size range. For particles <10 nm, the growth rate increases with size on 30 April. Dispersion modelling made with model SILAM support the conclusion that the nucleation event was interrupted by an outbreak of sulphate-rich air mass in the evening of 30 April that originated from the industry at Kola Peninsula, Russia. The results of this campaign highlight the need for detailed research in atmospheric transport of air constituents for understanding the aerosol dynamics.

Regional air quality in Leipzig, Germany: detailed source apportionment of size-resolved aerosol particles and comparison with the year 2000

2016 ◽  
Vol 189 ◽  
pp. 291-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. van Pinxteren ◽  
K. W. Fomba ◽  
G. Spindler ◽  
K. Müller ◽  
L. Poulain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Apportionment ◽  
Coal Combustion ◽  
Elemental Carbon ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Biomass Combustion ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Secondary Formation ◽  
Year 2000

A detailed source apportionment of size-resolved aerosol particles in the area of Leipzig, Germany, was performed. Sampling took place at four sites (traffic, traffic/residential, urban background, regional background) in parallel during summer 2013 and the winters 2013/14/15. Twenty-one samples were taken per season with a 5-stage Berner impactor and analysed for particulate mass, inorganic ions, organic and elemental carbon, water-soluble organic carbon, trace metals, and a wide range of organic species. The compositional data were used to estimate source contributions to particulate matter (PM) in quasi-ultrafine (up to 140 nm), accumulation mode, and coarse size ranges using Positive Matrix Factorisation (PMF) receptor modelling. Traffic (exhaust and general traffic emissions), coal combustion, biomass combustion, photochemistry, general secondary formation, cooking, fungal spores, urban dust, fresh sea/road salt, and aged sea salt were all found to contribute to different extents to observed PM concentrations. PMF derived estimates agreed reasonably with estimates from established macrotracer approaches. Quasi-ultrafine PM originated mainly from traffic (20–50%) and photochemistry (30–50%) in summer, while it was dominated by solid fuel (mainly biomass) combustion in winter (50–70%). Tentatively identified cooking aerosol contributed up to 36% on average at the residential site. For accumulation mode particles, two secondary sources typically contributed 40–90% to particle mass. In winter, biomass and coal combustion contributions were up to ca. 25% and 45%, respectively. Main sources of coarse particles were diverse and included nearly all PMF-resolved ones depending on season and air mass origin. For PM10, traffic (typically 20–40% at kerbside sites), secondary formation (30–60%), biomass combustion (10–15% in winter), and coal combustion (30–40% in winter with eastern air mass inflow) were the main quantified sources. At the residential site, contributions from biomass combustion derived up to 60% from local emissions. Coal combustion as a significant source was only present during eastern air mass inflow and showed very similar concentrations at all sites, indicating the importance of trans-boundary air pollution transport in the study area. Overall, nearly half of the PM10 mass was attributed to urban sources by a simple subtractive approach with highest reduction potentials of up to 80% for local (urban) mitigation measures in ultrafine and coarse particles. Local increments of elemental carbon have decreased by about 50% as compared to the year 2000, corroborating results from a former study on the positive effects of a low emission zone, implemented in Leipzig in 2011.

scholarly journals Concentrations and fluxes of aerosol particles during the LAPBIAT measurement campaign in Värriö field station

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 709-751
Author(s):  
T. M. Ruuskanen ◽  
M. Kaasik ◽  
P. P. Aalto ◽  
U. Hõrrak ◽  
M. Vana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kola Peninsula ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Particle Deposition ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Nucleation Event ◽  
Air Ions ◽  
Field Station ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Measurement Campaign

Abstract. The LAPBIAT measurement campaign took place in the SMEAR I measurement station located in Eastern Lapland in the spring of 2003 between 26 April and 11 May. In this paper we describe the measurement campaign, concentrations and fluxes of aerosol particles, air ions and trace gases, paying special attention to an aerosol particle formation event broken by a polluted air mass approaching from industrial areas of Kola Peninsula, Russia. Aerosol particle number flux measurements show strong downward fluxes during that time. Concentrations of coarse aerosol particles were high for 1–2 days before the nucleation event (i.e. 28–29 April), very low immediately before and during the observed aerosol particle formation event (30 April) and increased moderately from the moment of sudden break of the event. In general particle deposition measurements based on snow samples show the same changes. Measurements of the mobility distribution of air ions showed elevated concentrations of intermediate air ions during the particle formation event. We estimated the growth rates in the nucleation mode size range. For particles <10 nm, the growth rate increases with size on 30 April. Dispersion modelling made with model SILAM support the conclusion that the nucleation event was interrupted by an outbreak of sulphate-rich air mass in the evening of 30 April that originated from the industry at Kola Peninsula, Russia. The results of this campaign highlight the need for detailed research in atmospheric transport of air constituents for understanding the aerosol dynamics.

scholarly journals Measurements of Ice Nucleating Particles and Ice Residuals

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 8.1-8.13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Cziczo ◽  
Luis Ladino ◽  
Yvonne Boose ◽  
Zamin A. Kanji ◽  
Piotr Kupiszewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Condensed Phase ◽  
Atmospheric Aerosols ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Ice Crystals ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Residual Material ◽  
History Of ◽  
Phase Water

Abstract It has been known that aerosol particles act as nuclei for ice formation for over a century and a half (see Dufour). Initial attempts to understand the nature of these ice nucleating particles were optical and electron microscope inspection of inclusions at the center of a crystal (see Isono; Kumai). Only within the last few decades has instrumentation to extract ice crystals from clouds and analyze the residual material after sublimation of condensed-phase water been available (see Cziczo and Froyd). Techniques to ascertain the ice nucleating potential of atmospheric aerosols have only been in place for a similar amount of time (see DeMott et al.). In this chapter the history of measurements of ice nucleating particles, both in the field and complementary studies in the laboratory, are reviewed. Remaining uncertainties and artifacts associated with measurements are described and suggestions for future areas of improvement are made.

scholarly journals Laser ablation aerosol particle time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LAAPTOF): performance, reference spectra and classification of atmospheric samples

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 2325-2343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Shen ◽  
Ramakrishna Ramisetty ◽  
Claudia Mohr ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Thomas Leisner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Polystyrene Latex ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometer

Abstract. The laser ablation aerosol particle time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LAAPTOF, AeroMegt GmbH) is able to identify the chemical composition and mixing state of individual aerosol particles, and thus is a tool for elucidating their impacts on human health, visibility, ecosystem, and climate. The overall detection efficiency (ODE) of the instrument we use was determined to range from  ∼  (0.01 ± 0.01) to  ∼  (4.23 ± 2.36) % for polystyrene latex (PSL) in the size range of 200 to 2000 nm,  ∼  (0.44 ± 0.19) to  ∼  (6.57 ± 2.38) % for ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and  ∼  (0.14 ± 0.02) to  ∼  (1.46 ± 0.08) % for sodium chloride (NaCl) particles in the size range of 300 to 1000 nm. Reference mass spectra of 32 different particle types relevant for atmospheric aerosol (e.g. pure compounds NH4NO3, K2SO4, NaCl, oxalic acid, pinic acid, and pinonic acid; internal mixtures of e.g. salts, secondary organic aerosol, and metallic core–organic shell particles; more complex particles such as soot and dust particles) were determined. Our results show that internally mixed aerosol particles can result in spectra with new clusters of ions, rather than simply a combination of the spectra from the single components. An exemplary 1-day ambient data set was analysed by both classical fuzzy clustering and a reference-spectra-based classification method. Resulting identified particle types were generally well correlated. We show how a combination of both methods can greatly improve the interpretation of single-particle data in field measurements.

scholarly journals Identification of the Aerosol Types over Athens, Greece: The Influence of Air-Mass Transport

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Kaskaoutis ◽  
P. G. Kosmopoulos ◽  
H. D. Kambezidis ◽  
P. T. Nastos
Keyword(s):  
Winter Season ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Hysplit Model ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Local Pollution ◽  
Coarse Mode ◽  
Aerosol Types

Aerosol optical depth at 550 nm () and fine-mode (FM) fraction data from Terra-MODIS were obtained over the Greater Athens Area covering the period February 2000–December 2005. Based on both and FM values three main aerosol types have been discriminated corresponding to urban/industrial aerosols, clean maritime conditions, and coarse-mode, probably desert dust, particles. Five main sectors were identified for the classification of the air-mass trajectories, which were further used in the analysis of the ( and FM data for the three aerosol types). The HYSPLIT model was used to compute back trajectories at three altitudes to investigate the relation between -FM and wind sector depending on the altitude. The accumulation of local pollution is favored in spring and corresponds to air masses at lower altitudes originating from Eastern Europe and the Balkan. Clean maritime conditions are rare over Athens, limited in the winter season and associated with air masses from the Western or Northwestern sector. The coarse-mode particles origin seems to be more complicated proportionally to the season. Thus, in summer the Northern sector dominates, while in the other seasons, and especially in spring, the air masses belong to the Southern sector enriched with Saharan dust aerosols.

scholarly journals Aerosol particle characteristics measured in the United Arab Emirates and their response to mixing in the boundary layer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jutta Kesti ◽  
John Backman ◽  
Ewan James O'Connor ◽  
Anne Hirsikko ◽  
Eija Asmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Wind Direction ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Particle Properties ◽  
Boundary Layer Height

Abstract. Aerosol particles play an important in role in the microphysics of clouds and hence on their likelihood to precipitate. In the changing climate already dry areas such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are predicted to become even drier. Comprehensive observations of the daily and seasonal variation in aerosol particle properties in such locations are required reducing the uncertainty in such predictions. We analyse observations from a one-year measurement campaign at a background location in the United Arab Emirates to investigate the properties of aerosol particles in this region, study the impact of boundary layer mixing on background aerosol particle properties measured at the surface and study the temporal evolution of the aerosol particle cloud formation potential in the region. We used in-situ aerosol particle measurements to characterise the aerosol particle composition, size, number and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) properties, in-situ SO2 measurements as an anthropogenic signature and a long-range scanning Doppler lidar to provide vertical profiles of the horizontal wind and turbulent properties to monitor the evolution of the boundary layer. Anthropogenic sulphate dominated the aerosol particle mass composition in this location. There was a clear diurnal cycle in the surface wind direction, which had a strong impact on aerosol particle total number concentration, SO2 concentration and black carbon mass concentration. Local sources were the predominant source of black carbon, as concentrations clearly depended on the presence of turbulent mixing, with much higher values during calm nights. The measured concentrations of SO2, instead, were highly dependent on the surface wind direction as well as on the depth of the boundary layer when entrainment from the advected elevated layers occurred. The wind direction at the surface or of the elevated layer suggests that the cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other coastal conurbations were the remote sources of SO2. We observed new aerosol particle formation events almost every day (on four days out of five on average). Calm nights had the highest CCN number concentrations and lowest κ values and activation fractions. We did not observe any clear dependence of CCN number concentration and κ parameter on the height of the daytime boundary layer, whereas the activation fraction did show a slight increase with increasing boundary layer height, due to the change in the shape of the aerosol particle size distribution where the relative portion of larger aerosol particles increased with increasing boundary layer height. We believe that this indicates that size is more important than chemistry for aerosol particle CCN activation at this site. The combination of instrumentation used in this campaign enabled us to identify periods when anthropogenic pollution from remote sources that had been transported in elevated layers was present, and had been mixed down to the surface in the growing boundary layer.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document