Research article
01 Mar 2012
Research article | 01 Mar 2012
A numerical comparison of different methods for determining the particle formation rate
H. Vuollekoski1, S.-L. Sihto1, V.-M. Kerminen1,2, M. Kulmala1,3, and K. E. J. Lehtinen4,5
H. Vuollekoski et al.
H. Vuollekoski1, S.-L. Sihto1, V.-M. Kerminen1,2, M. Kulmala1,3, and K. E. J. Lehtinen4,5
- 1Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 48, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- 2Finnish Meteorological Institute, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
- 3Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
- 4Department of Physics and Mathematics, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- 5Finnish Meteorological Institute, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- 1Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 48, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- 2Finnish Meteorological Institute, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
- 3Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
- 4Department of Physics and Mathematics, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- 5Finnish Meteorological Institute, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Received: 18 Jun 2010 – Discussion started: 10 Aug 2010 – Revised: 21 Feb 2012 – Accepted: 21 Feb 2012 – Published: 01 Mar 2012
Different methods of determining formation rates of 3 nm particles are compared, basing on analysis of simulated data, but the results are valid for analyses of experimental particle size distribution data as well, at least within the accuracy of the applied model. The study shows that the method of determining formation rates indirectly from measured number concentration data of 3–6 nm particles is generally in good agreement with the theoretical calculation with a systematic error of 0–20%. While this accuracy is often enough, a simple modification to the approximative equation for the formation rate is recommended. A brief study on real atmospheric data implied that in some cases the accuracy gain may be significant.
