Abstract. The aerodynamic aerosol classifier (AAC) is a novel instrument that size-selects aerosol particles based on their mechanical mobility. So far, the application of an AAC for cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity analysis of aerosols has yet to be explored. Traditionally, a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) is used for aerosol classification in a CCN experimental setup. A DMA classifies particles based on their electrical mobility. Substituting the DMA with an AAC can eliminate multiple-charging artifacts as classification using an AAC does not require particle charging. In this work, we describe an AAC-based CCN experimental setup and CCN analysis method. We also discuss and develop equations to quantify the uncertainties associated with aerosol particle sizing. To do so, we extend the AAC transfer function analysis and calculate the measurement uncertainties of the aerodynamic diameter from the resolution of the AAC. The analysis framework has been packaged into a Python-based CCN Analysis Tool (PyCAT 1.0) open-source code, which is available on GitHub for public use. Results show that the AAC size-selects robustly (AAC resolution is 10.1, diffusion losses are minimal, and particle transmission is high) at larger aerodynamic diameters (≥∼ 85 nm). The size-resolved activation ratio is ideally sigmoidal since no charge corrections are required. Moreover, the uncertainties in the critical particle aerodynamic diameter at a given supersaturation can propagate through droplet activation, and the subsequent uncertainties with respect to the single-hygroscopicity parameter (κ) are reported. For a known aerosol such as sucrose, the κ derived from the critical dry aerodynamic diameter can be up to ∼ 50 % different from the theoretical κ. In this work, we do additional measurements to obtain dynamic shape factor information and convert the sucrose aerodynamic to volume equivalent diameter. The volume equivalent diameter applied to κ-Köhler theory improves the agreement between measured and theoretical κ. Given the limitations of the coupled AAC–CCN experimental setup, this setup is best used for low-hygroscopicity aerosol (κ≤0.2) CCN measurements.

Polycatechol and polyguaiacol are light-absorbing and water-insoluble compounds that are produced from biomass burning emissions. The aerosol can act as seeds for cloud droplet formation.

Abstract. In this work, we studied the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and subsaturated droplet growth of phthalic acid (PTA), isophthalic acid, (IPTA) and terephthalic acid (TPTA), significant benzene polycarboxylic acids and structural isomers found in the atmosphere. Köhler theory (KT) can be effectively applied for hygroscopicity analysis of PTA due to its higher aqueous solubility compared to IPTA and TPTA. As with other hygroscopicity studies of partially water-soluble and effectively water-insoluble species, the supersaturated and subsaturated hygroscopicity derived from KT principles do not agree. To address the disparities in the sub- and supersaturated droplet growth, we developed a new analytical framework called the Hybrid Activity Model (HAM). HAM incorporates the aqueous solubility of a solute within an adsorption-based activation framework. Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) adsorption theory (FHH-AT) was combined with the aqueous solubility of the compound to develop HAM. Analysis from HAM was validated using laboratory measurements of pure PTA, IPTA, TPTA and PTA–IPTA internal mixtures. Furthermore, the results generated using HAM were tested against traditional KT and FHH-AT to compare their water uptake predictive capabilities. A single hygroscopicity parameter was also developed based on the HAM framework. Results show that the HAM-based hygroscopicity parameter can successfully simulate the water uptake behavior of the pure and internally mixed samples. Results indicate that the HAM framework may be applied to atmospheric aerosols of varying chemical structures and aqueous solubility.

Abstract. The impact of molecular level surface chemistry for aerosol water-uptake and droplet growth is not well understood. In this work, spherical, nonporous, monodisperse polystyrene latex (PSL) particles treated with different surface functional groups are exploited to isolate the effects of aerosol surface chemistry for droplet activation. PSL is effectively water insoluble and changes in the particle surface may be considered a critical factor in the initial water uptake of water-insoluble material. The droplet growth of two surface modified types of PSL (PSL-NH2 and PSL-COOH) along with plain PSL was measured in a supersaturated environment with a Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter (CCNC). Three droplet growth models – traditional Köhler (TK), Flory–Huggins Köhler (FHK) and the Frenkel–Halsey–Hill adsorption theory (FHH-AT) were compared with experimental data. The experimentally determined single hygroscopicity parameter, κ, was found within the range from 0.002 to 0.04. The traditional Köhler prediction assumes Raoult's law solute dissolution and underestimates the water-uptake ability of the PSL particles. FHK can be applied to polymeric aerosol; however, FHK assumes that the polymer is soluble and hydrophilic. Thus, the FHK model generates a negative result for hydrophobic PSL and predicts non-activation behavior that disagrees with the experimental observation. The FHH-AT model assumes that a particle is water insoluble and can be fit with two empirical parameters (AFHH and BFHH). The FHH-AT prediction agrees with the experimental data and can differentiate the water uptake behavior of the particles owing to surface modification of PSL surface. PSL-NH2 exhibits slightly higher hygroscopicity than the PSL-COOH, whereas plain PSL is the least hygroscopic among the three. This result is consistent with the polarity of surface functional groups and their affinity to water molecules. Thus, changes in AFHH and BFHH can be quantified when surface modification is isolated for the study of water-uptake. The fitted AFHH for PSL-NH2, PSL-COOH, and plain PSL is 0.23, 0.21, and 0.18 when BFHH is unity. To simplify the use of FHH-AT for use in cloud activation models, we also present and test a new single parameter framework for insoluble compounds, κFHH. κFHH is within 5 % agreement of the experimental data and can be applied to describe a single-parameter hygroscopicity for water-insoluble aerosol with surface modified properties.

The present study examines the dynamics of mid-tropospheric vortex during cyclogenesis and quantifies the importance of such vortex developments in the intensification of tropical cyclone. The genesis of tropical cyclones are investigated based on two most widely accepted theories that explain the mechanism of cyclone formation namely 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' dynamics. The Weather Research and Forecast model is employed to generate high resolution dataset required for analysis. The development of the mid-level vortex was analyzed with regard to the evolution of potential vorticity (PV), relative vorticity (RV) and vertical wind shear. Two tropical cyclones which include the developing cyclone, Hudhud and the non-developing cyclone, Helen are considered. Further, Hudhud and Helen, is compared to a deep depression formed over Bay of Bengal to highlight the significance of the mid-level vortex in the genesis of a tropical cyclone. Major results obtained are as follows: stronger positive PV anomalies are noticed over upper and lower levels of troposphere near the storm center for Hudhud as compared to Helen and the depression; Constructive interference in upper and lower level positive PV anomaly maxima resulted in the intensification of Hudhud. For Hudhud, the evolution of RV follows 'top-down' dynamics, in which the growth starts from the middle troposphere and then progresses downwards. As for Helen, RV growth seems to follow 'bottom-up' mechanism initiating growth from the lower troposphere. Though, the growth of RV for the depression initiates from mid-troposphere, rapid dissipation of mid-level vortex destabilizes the system. It is found that the formation mid-level vortex in the genesis phase is significantly important for the intensification of the storm.