Hygroscopicity distribution concept for measurement data analysis and modeling of aerosol particle mixing state with regard to hygroscopic growth and CCN activation

Su, Hang; Rose, D.; Cheng, Yafang; Gunthe, Sachin S.; Maßling, Andreas; Stock, M.; Wiedensohler, Alfred; Andreae, Meinrat O.; Pöschl, Ulrich

doi:10.5194/acp-10-7489-2010

Cited by 127 publications

(160 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…This particular population had a mixing state index of χ 0 = 13 %. Figure 4 shows the distribution density function ∂ 2 N (D, κ)/(∂log 10 D ∂κ) based on the two-dimensional cumulative number distribution N (D, κ) in terms of particle diameter D and hygroscopicity parameter κ (Su et al, 2010;Fierce et al, 2013). We observe that at a particular particle size a distribution of hygroscopicity parameter values exists.…”

Section: Framework For Error Quantificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(3) The third metric is the geometric standard deviation of the aerosol distribution with respect to the hygroscopicity parameter κ, σ κ . The choice of this parameter was motivated by Su et al (2010), who used the concept of hygroscopicity distribution to characterize aerosol particle mixing state with regard to CCN properties. For consistency, σ κ and F LH were also evaluated using only particles with diameters between 30 and 150 nm.…”

Section: Relationship Of Error In Ccn Concentration and Mixing State mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Metrics to quantify the importance of mixing state for CCN activity

et al. 2017

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Abstract. It is commonly assumed that models are more prone to errors in predicted cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations when the aerosol populations are externally mixed. In this work we investigate this assumption by using the mixing state index (χ) proposed by Riemer and West (2013) to quantify the degree of external and internal mixing of aerosol populations. We combine this metric with particleresolved model simulations to quantify error in CCN predictions when mixing state information is neglected, exploring a range of scenarios that cover different conditions of aerosol aging. We show that mixing state information does indeed become unimportant for more internally mixed populations, more precisely for populations with χ larger than 75 %. For more externally mixed populations (χ below 20 %) the relationship of χ and the error in CCN predictions is not unique and ranges from lower than −40 % to about 150 %, depending on the underlying aerosol population and the environmental supersaturation. We explain the reasons for this behavior with detailed process analyses.

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Section: Framework For Error Quantificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relationship Of Error In Ccn Concentration and Mixing State mentioning

confidence: 99%

Metrics to quantify the importance of mixing state for CCN activity

et al. 2017

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“…Such behaviour of κ leads to two implications. First, as already discussed in Su et al (2010) and Paramonov et al (2013), the hygroscopicity of the whole aerosol population can, and in some cases should, be presented as a function of size; this can be done by way of either separate κ values for the Aitken and accumulation mode aerosol or hygroscopicity distribution functions. Values of κ derived from the CCNC are frequently discussed in conjunction with the chemistry information obtained, e.g.…”

Section: Ccn and Their Hygroscopicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A synthesis of cloud condensation nuclei counter (CCNC) measurements within the EUCAARI network

et al. 2015

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Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. M. Paramonov et al.: A synthesis of CCNC measurements within the EUCAARI networkAbstract. Cloud condensation nuclei counter (CCNC) measurements performed at 14 locations around the world within the European Integrated project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality interactions (EUCAARI) framework have been analysed and discussed with respect to the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation and hygroscopic properties of the atmospheric aerosol. The annual mean ratio of activated cloud condensation nuclei (N CCN ) to the total number concentration of particles (N CN ), known as the activated fraction A, shows a similar functional dependence on supersaturation S at many locations -exceptions to this being certain marine locations, a free troposphere site and background sites in south-west Germany and northern Finland. The use of total number concentration of particles above 50 and 100 nm diameter when calculating the activated fractions (A 50 and A 100 , respectively) renders a much more stable dependence of A on S; A 50 and A 100 also reveal the effect of the size distribution on CCN activation. With respect to chemical composition, it was found that the hygroscopicity of aerosol particles as a function of size differs among locations. The hygroscopicity parameter κ decreased with an increasing size at a continental site in south-west Germany and fluctuated without any particular size dependence across the observed size range in the remote tropical North Atlantic and rural central Hungary. At all other locations κ increased with size. In fact, in Hyytiälä, Vavihill, Jungfraujoch and Pallas the difference in hygroscopicity between Aitken and accumulation mode aerosol was statistically significant at the 5 % significance level. In a boreal environment the assumption of a size-independent κ can lead to a potentially substantial overestimation of N CCN at S levels above 0.6 %. The same is true for other locations where κ was found to increase with size. While detailed information about aerosol hygroscopicity can significantly improve the prediction of N CCN , total aerosol number concentration and aerosol size distribution remain more important parameters. The seasonal and diurnal patterns of CCN activation and hygroscopic properties vary among three long-term locations, highlighting the spatial and temporal variability of potential aerosol-cloud interactions in various environments.

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“…They can act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and affect climate by influencing the properties of clouds and precipitation (Lohmann and Feichter, 2005;Solomon et al, 2007;Rosenfeld et al, 2008). Depending on particle size, composition, and mixing state, aerosol particles are activated as CCN at different water vapor supersaturations (e.g., Köhler, 1936;Dusek et al, 2006;McFiggans et al, 2006;Andreae and Rosenfeld, 2008;Su et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of cloud supersaturation by size-resolved aerosol particle and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) measurements

et al. 2014

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Abstract. In this study we show how size-resolved measurements of aerosol particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) can be used to characterize the supersaturation of water vapor in a cloud. The method was developed and applied during the ACRIDICON-Zugspitze campaign (17 September to 4 October 2012) at the high-Alpine research station Schneefernerhaus (German Alps, 2650 m a.s.l.). Number size distributions of total and interstitial aerosol particles were measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), and size-resolved CCN efficiency spectra were recorded with a CCN counter system operated at different supersaturation levels.During the evolution of a cloud, aerosol particles are exposed to different supersaturation levels. We outline and compare different estimates for the lower and upper bounds (S low , S high ) and the average value (S avg ) of peak supersaturation encountered by the particles in the cloud. A major advantage of the derivation of S low and S avg from size-resolved CCN efficiency spectra is that it does not require the specific knowledge or assumptions about aerosol hygroscopicity that are needed to derive estimates of S low , S high , and S avg from aerosol size distribution data. For the investigated cloud event, we derived S low ≈ 0.07-0.25 %, S high ≈ 0.86-1.31 % and S avg ≈ 0.42-0.68 %.

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Hygroscopicity distribution concept for measurement data analysis and modeling of aerosol particle mixing state with regard to hygroscopic growth and CCN activation

Cited by 127 publications

References 48 publications

Metrics to quantify the importance of mixing state for CCN activity

Metrics to quantify the importance of mixing state for CCN activity

A synthesis of cloud condensation nuclei counter (CCNC) measurements within the EUCAARI network

Assessment of cloud supersaturation by size-resolved aerosol particle and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) measurements

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