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

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Authors
Paramonov, Mikhail
Kerminen, Veli-Matti
Aalto, Pasi Pekka
Andreae, Meinrat O.
Asmi, Eija
Baltensperger, Urs
Bougiatioti, Aikaterini
Brus, David
Frank, Göran
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
2015
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Type
01A - Journal article
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Parent work
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
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Series
Series number
Volume
15
Issue / Number
21
Pages / Duration
12211–12229
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Publisher / Publishing institution
Copernicus
Place of publication / Event location
Göttingen
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Abstract
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 (NCCN) to the total number concentration of particles (NCN), 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 (A50 and A100, respectively) renders a much more stable dependence of A on S; A50 and A100 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 NCCN 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 NCCN, 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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Subject (DDC)
620 - Ingenieurwissenschaften und Maschinenbau
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ISBN
ISSN
1680-7324
1680-7316
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
Gold
License
'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'
Citation
PARAMONOV, Mikhail, Veli-Matti KERMINEN, Martin GYSEL, Pasi Pekka AALTO, Meinrat O. ANDREAE, Eija ASMI, Urs BALTENSPERGER, Aikaterini BOUGIATIOTI, David BRUS, Göran FRANK, Nicholas GOOD, Sachin S. GUNTHE, Liqing HAO, Martin IRWIN, Antti JAATINEN, Zsófia JURÁNYI, S. M. KING, Aki KORTELAINEN, Adam KRISTENSSON, Heikki LIHAVAINEN, Markku KULMALA, Ulrike LOHMANN, Scot T. MARTIN, Gordon MCFIGGANS, Nikolaos MIHALOPOULOS, Athanasios NENES, Colin D. O’DOWD, Jurgita OVADNEVAITE, Tuukka PETÄJÄ, Ulrich PÖSCHL, Greg ROBERTS, Diana ROSE, Birgitta SVENNINGSSON, Erik SWIETLICKI, Ernest WEINGARTNER, James WHITEHEAD, Alfred WIEDENSOHLER, Cerina WITTBOM und Berko SIERAU, 2015. A synthesis of cloud condensation nuclei counter (CCNC) measurements within the EUCAARI network. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2015. Bd. 15, Nr. 21, S. 12211–12229. DOI 10.5194/acp-15-12211-2015. Verfügbar unter: https://doi.org/10.26041/fhnw-8076