scholarly journals New particle formation in air mass transported between two measurement sites in Northern Finland

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 11929-11963 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Komppula ◽  
S.-L. Sihto ◽  
H. Korhonen ◽  
H. Lihavainen ◽  
V.-M. Kerminen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Aerosol Dynamics ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Distinct Features

Abstract. This study covers four years of aerosol number size distribution data from Pallas and Värriö sites 250 km apart from each other in Northern Finland and compares new particle formation events between these sites. In eastern air masses almost all events were observed to start earlier at the eastern station Värriö, whereas in western air masses most of the events were observed to start earlier at the western station Pallas. This demonstrates that particle formation in a certain air mass type depends not only on the diurnal variation of the parameters causing the phenomenon (such as photochemistry) but also on some properties carried by the air mass itself. The correlation in growth rates between the two sites was relatively good, which suggests that the amount of condensable vapour causing the growth must have been at about the same level in both sites. The value of condensation sink was frequently much higher at the downwind station. It seems that secondary particle formation related to biogenic sources dominate in many cases over the particle sinks during the air mass transport between the sites. Two cases of transport from Pallas to Värriö were further analysed with an aerosol dynamics model. The model was able to reproduce the observed nucleation events 250 km down-wind at Värriö but revealed some differences between the two cases. The simulated nucleation rates were in both cases similar but the organic concentration profiles that best reproduced the observations were different in the two cases indicating that divergent formation reactions may dominate under different conditions. The simulations also suggested that organic compounds were the main contributor to new particle growth, which offers a tentative hypothesis to the distinct features of new particles at the two sites: Air masses arriving from Atlantic Ocean typically spent approximately only ten hours over land before arriving at Pallas, and thus the time for the organic vapours to accumulate in the air and to interact with the particles is relatively short. This can lead to low nucleation mode growth rates and even to suppression of detectable particle formation event due to efficient scavenging of newly formed clusters, as was observed in the case studies.

scholarly journals New particle formation in air mass transported between two measurement sites in Northern Finland

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 2811-2824 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Komppula ◽  
S.-L. Sihto ◽  
H. Korhonen ◽  
H. Lihavainen ◽  
V.-M. Kerminen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Aerosol Dynamics ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Distinct Features

Abstract. This study covers four years of aerosol number size distribution data from Pallas and Värriö sites 250 km apart from each other in Northern Finland and compares new particle formation events between these sites. In air masses of eastern origin almost all events were observed to start earlier at the eastern station Värriö, whereas in air masses of western origin most of the events were observed to start earlier at the western station Pallas. This demonstrates that particle formation in a certain air mass type depends not only on the diurnal variation of the parameters causing the phenomenon (such as photochemistry) but also on some properties carried by the air mass itself. The correlation in growth rates between the two sites was relatively good, which suggests that the amount of condensable vapour causing the growth must have been at about the same level in both sites. The condensation sink was frequently much higher at the downwind station. It seems that secondary particle formation related to biogenic sources dominate in many cases over the particle sinks during the air mass transport between the sites. Two cases of transport from Pallas to Värriö were further analysed with an aerosol dynamics model. The model was able to reproduce the observed nucleation events 250 km down-wind at Värriö but revealed some differences between the two cases. The simulated nucleation rates were in both cases similar but the organic concentration profiles that best reproduced the observations were different in the two cases indicating that divergent formation reactions may dominate under different conditions. The simulations also suggested that organic compounds were the main contributor to new particle growth, which offers a tentative hypothesis to the distinct features of new particles at the two sites: Air masses arriving from the Atlantic Ocean typically spent approximately only ten hours over land before arriving at Pallas, and thus the time for the organic vapours to accumulate in the air and to interact with the particles is relatively short. This can lead to low nucleation mode growth rates and even to suppression of detectable particle formation event due to efficient scavenging of newly formed clusters, as was observed in the case studies.

scholarly journals Analysis of new particle formation (NPF) events at nearby rural, urban background and urban roadside sites

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 5679-5694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Bousiotis ◽  
Manuel Dall'Osto ◽  
David C. S. Beddows ◽  
Francis D. Pope ◽  
Roy M. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Urban Background ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Condensation Sink

Abstract. New particle formation (NPF) events have different patterns of development depending on the conditions of the area in which they occur. In this study, particle size distributions in the range of 16.6–604 nm (7 years of data) were analysed and NPF events occurring at three sites of differing characteristics – rural Harwell (HAR), urban background North Kensington (NK), urban roadside Marylebone Road (MR), London, UK – were extracted and studied. The different atmospheric conditions in each study area not only have an effect on the frequency of the events, but also affect their development. The frequency of NPF events is similar at the rural and urban background locations (about 7 % of days), with a high proportion of events occurring at both sites on the same day (45 %). The frequency of NPF events at the urban roadside site is slightly less (6 % of days), and higher particle growth rates (average 5.5 nm h−1 at MR compared to 3.4 and 4.2 nm h−1 at HAR and NK respectively) must result from rapid gas-to-particle conversion of traffic-generated pollutants. A general pattern is found in which the condensation sink increases with the degree of pollution of the site, but this is counteracted by increased particle growth rates at the more polluted location. A key finding of this study is that the role of the urban environment leads to an increment of 20 % in N16–20 nm in the urban background compared to that of the rural area in NPF events occurring at both sites. The relationship of the origin of incoming air masses is also considered and an association of regional events with cleaner air masses is found. Due to lower availability of condensable species, NPF events that are associated with cleaner atmospheric conditions have lower growth rates of the newly formed particles. The decisive effect of the condensation sink in the development of NPF events and the survivability of the newly formed particles is underlined, and influences the overall contribution of NPF events to the number of ultrafine particles in an area. The other key factor identified by this study is the important role that pollution, both from traffic and other sources in the urban environment (such as heating or cooking), plays in new particle formation events.

scholarly journals Analysis of New Particle Formation (NPF) Events at Nearby Rural, Urban Background and Urban Roadside Sites

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Bousiotis ◽  
Manuel Dall’Osto ◽  
David C. S. Beddows ◽  
Francis D. Pope ◽  
Roy M. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Urban Background ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Condensation Sink

Abstract. NPF events have different patterns of development depending on the conditions of the area in which they occur. In this study, NPF events occurring at three sites of differing characteristics (rural Harwell (HAR), urban background North Kensington (NK), urban roadside Marylebone Road (MR), London, UK) were studied (seven years of data). The different atmospheric conditions in each study area not only have an effect on the frequency of the events, but also affect their development. The frequency of NPF events is similar at the rural and urban background locations (about 7 % of days), with a high proportion of events occurring at both sites on the same day (45 %). The frequency of NPF events at the urban roadside site is slightly less (6 % of days), and higher particle growth rates (average 5.5 nm h−1 at MR compared to 3.4 nm h−1 and 4.2 nm h−1 at HAR and NK respectively) must result from rapid gas to particle conversion of traffic-generated pollutants. A general pattern is found in which the condensation sink increases with the degree of pollution of the site, but this is counteracted by increased particle growth rates at the more polluted location. A key finding of this study is that the role of the urban environment leads to an increment of 20 % in N16–20 nm in the urban background compared to that of the rural area in NPF events occurring at both sites. The relationship of the origin of incoming air masses is also considered and an association of regional events with cleaner air masses is found. Due to lower availability of condensable species, NPF events that are associated with cleaner atmospheric conditions have lower growth rates of the newly formed particles. The decisive effect of the condensation sink in the development of NPF events and the survivability of the newly formed particles is underlined, and influences the overall contribution of NPF events to the number of ultrafine particles in an area. The other key factor identified by this study is the important role that urban pollution plays in new particle formation events.

scholarly journals Analysis of particle size distribution changes between three measurement sites in Northern Scandinavia

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 9401-9442 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Väänänen ◽  
E.-M. Kyrö ◽  
T. Nieminen ◽  
N. Kivekäs ◽  
H. Junninen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Aerosol Dynamics ◽  
Particle Sizer

Abstract. We investigated atmospheric aerosol particle dynamics in a boreal forest zone in Northern Scandinavia. We used aerosol size distribution data measured with either a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS) or Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) at three stations (Värriö, Pallas and Abisko), and combined these data with the HYSPLIT air mass trajectory analysis. We compared three approaches: analysis of new particle formation events, investigation of air masses transport from the ocean to individual stations with different over-land transport times, and analysis of changes in aerosol particle size distributions during the air masses transport from one measurement station to another. Aitken mode particles were found to have an apparent average growth rate of 0.6–0.7 nm h−1 when the air masses travelled over land. Particle growth rates during the NPF events were 3–6 times higher than the apparent particle growth. When comparing aerosol dynamics between the different stations for different over-land transport times, no major differences were found except that in Abisko the new particle formation events were observed to take place in air masses having shorter over-land times than at the other stations. We speculate that this is related to the meteorological differences along the paths of air masses caused by the land surface topology. When comparing between air masses travelling the east-to-west direction to those traveling the west-to-east directions, clear differences in the aerosol dynamics were seen. Our results suggest that the condensation growth has an important role in aerosol dynamics also when new particle formation is not evident.

scholarly journals Analysis of particle size distribution changes between three measurement sites in northern Scandinavia

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 11887-11903 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Väänänen ◽  
E.-M. Kyrö ◽  
T. Nieminen ◽  
N. Kivekäs ◽  
H. Junninen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transport ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Aerosol Dynamics ◽  
Particle Sizer

Abstract. We investigated atmospheric aerosol particle dynamics in a boreal forest zone in northern Scandinavia. We used aerosol number size distribution data measured with either a differential mobility particle sizer (DMPS) or scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) at three stations (Värriö, Pallas and Abisko), and combined these data with the HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) air mass trajectory analysis. We compared three approaches: analysis of new particle formation events, investigation of aerosol particle number size distributions during the air mass transport from the ocean to individual stations with different overland transport times, and analysis of changes in aerosol particle number size distributions during the air mass transport from one measurement station to another. Aitken-mode particles were found to have apparent average growth rates of 0.6–0.7 nm h−1 when the air masses traveled over land. Particle growth rates during the new particle formation (NPF) events were 3–6 times higher than the apparent particle growth during the summer period. When comparing aerosol dynamics for different overland transport times between the different stations, no major differences were found, except that in Abisko the NPF events were observed to take place in air masses with shorter overland times than at the other stations. We speculate that this is related to the meteorological differences along the paths of air masses caused by the land surface topology. When comparing air masses traveling in an east-to-west direction with those traveling in a west-to-east direction, clear differences in the aerosol dynamics were seen. Our results suggest that the condensation growth has an important role in aerosol dynamics even when NPF is not evident.

scholarly journals Climatology of new particle formation at Izaña mountain GAW observatory in the subtropical North Atlantic

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 3865-3881 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. García ◽  
S. Rodríguez ◽  
Y. González ◽  
R. D. García
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Condensation Sink

Abstract. A climatology of new particle formation (NPF) events at high altitude in the subtropical North Atlantic is presented. A 4-year data set (June 2008–June 2012), which includes number size distributions (10–600 nm), reactive gases (SO2, NOx, and O3), several components of solar radiation and meteorological parameters, measured at Izaña Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) observatory (2373 m above sea level; Tenerife, Canary Islands) was analysed. NPF is associated with the transport of gaseous precursors from the boundary layer by orographic buoyant upward flows that perturb the low free troposphere during daytime. On average, 30% of the days contained an NPF event. Mean values of the formation and growth rates during the study period were 0.46 cm−3 s−1 and 0.42 nm h−1, correspondingly. There is a clearly marked NPF season (May–August), when these events account for 50–60% of the days per month. Monthly mean values of the formation and growth rates exhibit higher values in this season, 0.49–0.92 cm−3 s−1 and 0.48–0.58 nm h−1, respectively. During NPF events, SO2, UV radiation and upslope winds showed higher values than during non-events. The overall data set indicates that SO2 plays a key role as precursor, although other species seem to contribute during some periods. Condensation of sulfuric acid vapour accounts for most of the measured particle growth during most of the year (~70%), except for some periods. In May, the highest mean growth rates (~0.6 nm h−1) and the lowest contribution of sulfuric acid (~13%) were measured, suggesting a significant involvement of other condensing vapours. The SO2 availability seems also to be the most influencing parameter in the year-to-year variability in the frequency of NPF events. The condensation sink showed similar features to other mountain sites, showing high values during NPF events. Summertime observations, when Izaña is within the Saharan Air Layer, suggest that dust particles may play a significant role acting as coagulation sink of freshly formed nucleation particles. The contribution of dust particles to the condensation sink of sulfuric acid vapours seems to be modest (~8% as average). Finally, we identified a set of NPF events in which two nucleation modes, which may evolve at different rates, occur simultaneously and for which further investigations are necessary.

scholarly journals Basic characteristics of atmospheric particles, trace gases and meteorology in a relatively clean Southern African Savannah environment

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 6313-6353 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Laakso ◽  
H. Laakso ◽  
P. P. Aalto ◽  
P. Keronen ◽  
T. Petäjä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Total Particle ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10

Abstract. We have analyzed one year (July 2006–July 2007) of measurement data from a relatively clean background site located in dry savannah in South Africa. The annual-median trace gas concentrations were equal to 0.7 ppb for SO2, 1.4 ppb for NOx, 36 ppb for O3 and 105 ppb for CO. The corresponding PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were 9.0, 10.5 and 18.8 μg m−3, and the annual median total particle number concentration in the size range 10–840 nm was 2340 cm−3. Gases and particles had a clear seasonal and diurnal variation, which was associated with field fires and biological activity together with local meteorology. Atmospheric new-particle formation was observed to take place in more than 90% of the analyzed days. The days with no new particle formation were cloudy or rainy days. The formation rate of 10 nm particles varied in the range of 0.1–28 cm−3 s−1 (median 1.9 cm−3 s−1) and nucleation mode particle growth rates were in the range 3–21 nm h−1 (median 8.5 nm h−1). Due to high formation and growth rates, observed new particle formation gives a significant contribute to the number of cloud condensation nuclei budget, having a potential to affect the regional climate forcing patterns.

scholarly journals Secondary new particle formation in Northern Finland Pallas site between the years 2000 and 2010

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 12959-12972 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Asmi ◽  
N. Kivekäs ◽  
V.-M. Kerminen ◽  
M. Komppula ◽  
A.-P. Hyvärinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Event Frequency ◽  
Marine Air

Abstract. Secondary new particle formation affects atmospheric aerosol and cloud droplet numbers and thereby, the aerosol effects on climate. In this paper, the frequency of nucleation events and the associated particle formation and growth rates, along with their seasonal variation, was analysed based on over ten years of aerosol measurements conducted at the Pallas GAW station in northern Finland. The long-term measurements also allowed a detailed examination of factors possibly favouring or suppressing particle formation. Effects of meteorological parameters and air mass properties as well as vapour sources and sinks for particle formation frequency and event parameters were inspected. In addition, the potential of secondary particle formation to increase the concentration of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) sized particles was examined. Findings from these long-term measurements confirmed previous observations: event frequency peaked in spring and the highest growth rates were observed in summer, affiliated with increased biogenic activity. Events were almost exclusively observed in marine air masses on sunny cloud-free days. A low vapour sink by the background particle population as well as an elevated sulphuric acid concentration were found to favour particle formation. These were also conditions taking place most likely in marine air masses. Inter-annual trend showed a minimum in event frequency in 2003, when also the smallest annual median of growth rate was observed. This gives further evidence of the importance and sensitivity of particle formation for the condensing vapour concentrations at Pallas site. The particle formation was observed to increase CCN80 (>80 nm particle number) concentrations especially in summer and autumn seasons when the growth rates were the highest. When the growing mode exceeded the selected 80 nm limit, on average in those cases, 211 ± 114% increase of CCN80 concentrations was observed.

scholarly journals Spatial distribution and occurrence probability of regional new particle formation events in eastern China

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojing Shen ◽  
Junying Sun ◽  
Niku Kivekäs ◽  
Adam Kristensson ◽  
Xiaoye Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Spatial Extent ◽  
Occurrence Probability ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Relative Probability ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Rural Sites

Abstract. In this work, the spatial extent of new particle formation (NPF) events and the relative probability of observing particles originating from different spatial origins around three rural sites in eastern China were investigated using the NanoMap method, using particle number size distribution (PNSD) data and air mass back trajectories. The length of the datasets used were 7, 1.5, and 3 years at rural sites Shangdianzi (SDZ) in the North China Plain (NCP), Mt. Tai (TS) in central eastern China, and Lin'an (LAN) in the Yangtze River Delta region in eastern China, respectively. Regional NPF events were observed to occur with the horizontal extent larger than 500 km at SDZ and TS, favoured by the fast transport of northwesterly air masses. At LAN, however, the spatial footprint of NPF events was mostly observed around the site within 100–200 km. Difference in the horizontal spatial distribution of new particle source areas at different sites was connected to typical meteorological conditions at the sites. Consecutive large-scale regional NPF events were observed at SDZ and TS simultaneously and were associated with a high surface pressure system dominating over this area. Simultaneous NPF events at SDZ and LAN were seldom observed. At SDZ the polluted air masses arriving over the NCP were associated with higher particle growth rate (GR) and new particle formation rate (J) than air masses from Inner Mongolia (IM). At TS the same phenomenon was observed for J, but GR was somewhat lower in air masses arriving over the NCP compared to those arriving from IM. The capability of NanoMap to capture the NPF occurrence probability depends on the length of the dataset of PNSD measurement but also on topography around the measurement site and typical air mass advection speed during NPF events. Thus the long-term measurements of PNSD in the planetary boundary layer are necessary in the further study of spatial extent and the probability of NPF events. The spatial extent, relative probability of occurrence, and typical evolution of PNSD during NPF events presented in this study provide valuable information to further understand the climate and air quality effects of new particle formation.

scholarly journals An improved criterion for new particle formation in diverse atmospheric environments

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 8469-8480 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Kuang ◽  
I. Riipinen ◽  
S.-L. Sihto ◽  
M. Kulmala ◽  
A. V. McCormick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Diverse Data

Abstract. A dimensionless theory for new particle formation (NPF) was developed, using an aerosol population balance model incorporating recent developments in nucleation rates and measured particle growth rates. Based on this theoretical analysis, it was shown that a dimensionless parameter LΓ, characterizing the ratio of the particle scavenging loss rate to the particle growth rate, exclusively determined whether or not NPF would occur on a particular day. This parameter determines the probability that a nucleated particle will grow to a detectable size before being lost by coagulation with the pre-existing aerosol. Cluster-cluster coagulation was shown to contribute negligibly to this survival probability under conditions pertinent to the atmosphere. Data acquired during intensive measurement campaigns in Tecamac (MILAGRO), Atlanta (ANARChE), Boulder, and Hyytiälä (QUEST II, QUEST IV, and EUCAARI) were used to test the validity of LΓ as an NPF criterion. Measurements included aerosol size distributions down to 3 nm and gas-phase sulfuric acid concentrations. The model was applied to seventy-seven NPF events and nineteen non-events (characterized by growth of pre-existing aerosol without NPF) measured in diverse environments with broad ranges in sulfuric acid concentrations, ultrafine number concentrations, aerosol surface areas, and particle growth rates (nearly two orders of magnitude). Across this diverse data set, a nominal value of LΓ=0.7 was found to determine the boundary for the occurrence of NPF, with NPF occurring when LΓ<0.7 and being suppressed when LΓ>0.7. Moreover, nearly 45% of measured LΓ values associated with NPF fell in the relatively narrow range of 0.1

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