Browsing by Author "Weinhold, Kay"
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- PublicationMobility particle size spectrometers. harmonization of technical standards and data structure to facilitate high quality long-term observations of atmospheric particle number size distributions(Copernicus, 29.03.2012) Wiedensohler, Alfred; Birmili, Wolfram; Nowak, Marta; Sonntag, André; Weinhold, Kay; Merkel, Maik; Wehner, Birgit; Tuch, Thomas; Pfeifer, Sascha; Fiebig, Markus; Fjäraa, Ann Mari; Asmi, Eija; Sellegri, Karine; Depuy, R.; Venzac, Hervé; Villani, Paolo; Laj, Paolo; Aalto, Pasi Pekka; Ogren, John A.; Swietlicki, Erik; Williams, Paul I.; Roldin, Pontus; Quincey, Paul; Hüglin, Christoph; Fierz-Schmidhauser, Rahel; Gysel, Martin; Weingartner, Ernest; Riccobono, Francesco; Santos, S.; Gruening, Carsten; Faloon, K.; Beddows, D.; Harrison, Roy; Monahan, C.; Jennings, Stephen G.; O'Dowd, Colin D.; Marinoni, Angela; Horn, H.-G.; Keck, L.; Jiang, Jingkun; Scheckman, Jakob; McMurry, Peter H.; Deng, Zhaoze; Zhao, Chunsheng; Moerman, Marcel; Henzing, Bas; de Leeuw, Gerrit; Löschau, G.; Bastian, S. [in: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques]Abstract. Mobility particle size spectrometers often referred to as DMPS (Differential Mobility Particle Sizers) or SMPS (Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers) have found a wide range of applications in atmospheric aerosol research. However, comparability of measurements conducted world-wide is hampered by lack of generally accepted technical standards and guidelines with respect to the instrumental set-up, measurement mode, data evaluation as well as quality control. Technical standards were developed for a minimum requirement of mobility size spectrometry to perform long-term atmospheric aerosol measurements. Technical recommendations include continuous monitoring of flow rates, temperature, pressure, and relative humidity for the sheath and sample air in the differential mobility analyzer. We compared commercial and custom-made inversion routines to calculate the particle number size distributions from the measured electrical mobility distribution. All inversion routines are comparable within few per cent uncertainty for a given set of raw data. Furthermore, this work summarizes the results from several instrument intercomparison workshops conducted within the European infrastructure project EUSAAR (European Supersites for Atmospheric Aerosol Research) and ACTRIS (Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research InfraStructure Network) to determine present uncertainties especially of custom-built mobility particle size spectrometers. Under controlled laboratory conditions, the particle number size distributions from 20 to 200 nm determined by mobility particle size spectrometers of different design are within an uncertainty range of around ±10% after correcting internal particle losses, while below and above this size range the discrepancies increased. For particles larger than 200 nm, the uncertainty range increased to 30%, which could not be explained. The network reference mobility spectrometers with identical design agreed within ±4% in the peak particle number concentration when all settings were done carefully. The consistency of these reference instruments to the total particle number concentration was demonstrated to be less than 5%. Additionally, a new data structure for particle number size distributions was introduced to store and disseminate the data at EMEP (European Monitoring and Evaluation Program). This structure contains three levels: raw data, processed data, and final particle size distributions. Importantly, we recommend reporting raw measurements including all relevant instrument parameters as well as a complete documentation on all data transformation and correction steps. These technical and data structure standards aim to enhance the quality of long-term size distribution measurements, their comparability between different networks and sites, and their transparency and traceability back to raw data.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher Zeitschrift
- PublicationNumber size distributions and seasonality of submicron particles in Europe 2008–2009(Copernicus, 15.06.2011) Asmi, Ari; Wiedensohler, Alfred; Laj, Paolo; Fjaeraa, Ann Mari; Sellegri, Karine; Birmili, Wolfram; Weingartner, Ernest; Baltensperger, Urs; Zdimal, Vladimir; Zikova, Nadezda; Putaud, Jean-Philippe; Marinoni, Angela; Tunved, Peter; Hansson, Hans-Christen; Fiebig, Markus; Kivekäs, Niku; Lihavainen, Heikki; Asmi, Eija; Ulevicius, Vidmantas; Aalto, Pasi Pekka; Swietlicki, Erik; Kristensson, Adam; Mihalopoulos, Nikolaos; Kalivitis, Nikos; Kalapov, Ivo; Kiss, Gyula; de Leeuw, Gerrit; Henzing, Bas; Harrison, Roy; Beddows, David; O'Dowd, Colin; Jennings, Stephen G.; Flentje, Harald; Weinhold, Kay; Meinhardt, Frank; Ries, Ludwig; Kulmala, Markku [in: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics]Two years of harmonized aerosol number size distribution data from 24 European field monitoring sites have been analysed. The results give a comprehensive overview of the European near surface aerosol particle number concentrations and number size distributions between 30 and 500 nm of dry particle diameter. Spatial and temporal distribution of aerosols in the particle sizes most important for climate applications are presented. We also analyse the annual, weekly and diurnal cycles of the aerosol number concentrations, provide log-normal fitting parameters for median number size distributions, and give guidance notes for data users. Emphasis is placed on the usability of results within the aerosol modelling community. We also show that the aerosol number concentrations of Aitken and accumulation mode particles (with 100 nm dry diameter as a cut-off between modes) are related, although there is significant variation in the ratios of the modal number concentrations. Different aerosol and station types are distinguished from this data and this methodology has potential for further categorization of stations aerosol number size distribution types. The European submicron aerosol was divided into characteristic types: Central European aerosol, characterized by single mode median size distributions, unimodal number concentration histograms and low variability in CCN-sized aerosol number concentrations; Nordic aerosol with low number concentrations, although showing pronounced seasonal variation of especially Aitken mode particles; Mountain sites (altitude over 1000 m a.s.l.) with a strong seasonal cycle in aerosol number concentrations, high variability, and very low median number concentrations. Southern and Western European regions had fewer stations, which decreases the regional coverage of these results. Aerosol number concentrations over the Britain and Ireland had very high variance and there are indications of mixed air masses from several source regions; the Mediterranean aerosol exhibit high seasonality, and a strong accumulation mode in the summer. The greatest concentrations were observed at the Ispra station in Northern Italy with high accumulation mode number concentrations in the winter. The aerosol number concentrations at the Arctic station Zeppelin in Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard have also a strong seasonal cycle, with greater concentrations of accumulation mode particles in winter, and dominating summer Aitken mode indicating more recently formed particles. Observed particles did not show any statistically significant regional work-week or weekday related variation in number concentrations studied. Analysis products are made for open-access to the research community, available in a freely accessible internet site. The results give to the modelling community a reliable, easy-to-use and freely available comparison dataset of aerosol size distributions.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher Zeitschrift