Articles | Volume 16, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-239-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-239-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
18 Jan 2016
Research article |
| 18 Jan 2016
Light absorption properties of laboratory-generated tar ball particles
A. Hoffer
MTA-PE Air Chemistry Research Group, Veszprém, P.O. Box 158, 8201, Hungary
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Pannonia, Veszprém, P.O. Box 158, 8201, Hungary
I. Nyirő-Kósa
MTA-PE Air Chemistry Research Group, Veszprém, P.O. Box 158, 8201, Hungary
M. Pósfai
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Pannonia, Veszprém, P.O. Box 158, 8201, Hungary
A. Gelencsér
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
MTA-PE Air Chemistry Research Group, Veszprém, P.O. Box 158, 8201, Hungary
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Pannonia, Veszprém, P.O. Box 158, 8201, Hungary
Related authors
András Hoffer, Aida Meiramova, Ádám Tóth, Beatrix Jancsek-Turóczi, Gyula Kiss, Ágnes Rostási, Erika Andrea Levei, Luminita Marmureanu, Attila Machon, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1659–1671, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1659-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1659-2024, 2024
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Specific tracer compounds identified previously in controlled test burnings of different waste types in the laboratory were detected and quantified in ambient PM10 samples collected in five Hungarian and four Romanian settlements. Back-of-the-envelope calculations based on the relative emission factors of individual tracers suggested that the contribution of solid waste burning particulate emissions to ambient PM10 mass concentrations may be as high as a few percent.
András Hoffer, Ádám Tóth, Beatrix Jancsek-Turóczi, Attila Machon, Aida Meiramova, Attila Nagy, Luminita Marmureanu, and András Gelencsér
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Due to the widespread use of plastics high amounts of waste are burned in households worldwide, emitting vast amounts of PM10 and PAHs into the atmosphere. In this work different types of common plastics were burned in the laboratory with a view to identifying potentially specific tracer compounds and determining their emission factors. The compounds found were also successfully identified in atmospheric PM10 samples, indicating their potential use as ambient tracers for illegal waste burning.
András Hoffer, Beatrix Jancsek-Turóczi, Ádám Tóth, Gyula Kiss, Anca Naghiu, Erika Andrea Levei, Luminita Marmureanu, Attila Machon, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 16135–16144, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-16135-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-16135-2020, 2020
Short summary
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Emission factors for PM10 and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are reported for the first time ever for the indoor combustion of 12 common types of municipal solid waste that are frequently burned in households worldwide. We have found that waste burning emits up to 40 times more PM10 and 800 times more PAHs than the combustion of dry firewood. Our finding highlights the need for coordinated actions against illegal waste combustion and the extreme health hazard associated with it.
Paolo Laj, Alessandro Bigi, Clémence Rose, Elisabeth Andrews, Cathrine Lund Myhre, Martine Collaud Coen, Yong Lin, Alfred Wiedensohler, Michael Schulz, John A. Ogren, Markus Fiebig, Jonas Gliß, Augustin Mortier, Marco Pandolfi, Tuukka Petäja, Sang-Woo Kim, Wenche Aas, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Olga Mayol-Bracero, Melita Keywood, Lorenzo Labrador, Pasi Aalto, Erik Ahlberg, Lucas Alados Arboledas, Andrés Alastuey, Marcos Andrade, Begoña Artíñano, Stina Ausmeel, Todor Arsov, Eija Asmi, John Backman, Urs Baltensperger, Susanne Bastian, Olaf Bath, Johan Paul Beukes, Benjamin T. Brem, Nicolas Bukowiecki, Sébastien Conil, Cedric Couret, Derek Day, Wan Dayantolis, Anna Degorska, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Prodromos Fetfatzis, Olivier Favez, Harald Flentje, Maria I. Gini, Asta Gregorič, Martin Gysel-Beer, A. Gannet Hallar, Jenny Hand, Andras Hoffer, Christoph Hueglin, Rakesh K. Hooda, Antti Hyvärinen, Ivo Kalapov, Nikos Kalivitis, Anne Kasper-Giebl, Jeong Eun Kim, Giorgos Kouvarakis, Irena Kranjc, Radovan Krejci, Markku Kulmala, Casper Labuschagne, Hae-Jung Lee, Heikki Lihavainen, Neng-Huei Lin, Gunter Löschau, Krista Luoma, Angela Marinoni, Sebastiao Martins Dos Santos, Frank Meinhardt, Maik Merkel, Jean-Marc Metzger, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Nhat Anh Nguyen, Jakub Ondracek, Noemi Pérez, Maria Rita Perrone, Jean-Eudes Petit, David Picard, Jean-Marc Pichon, Veronique Pont, Natalia Prats, Anthony Prenni, Fabienne Reisen, Salvatore Romano, Karine Sellegri, Sangeeta Sharma, Gerhard Schauer, Patrick Sheridan, James Patrick Sherman, Maik Schütze, Andreas Schwerin, Ralf Sohmer, Mar Sorribas, Martin Steinbacher, Junying Sun, Gloria Titos, Barbara Toczko, Thomas Tuch, Pierre Tulet, Peter Tunved, Ville Vakkari, Fernando Velarde, Patricio Velasquez, Paolo Villani, Sterios Vratolis, Sheng-Hsiang Wang, Kay Weinhold, Rolf Weller, Margarita Yela, Jesus Yus-Diez, Vladimir Zdimal, Paul Zieger, and Nadezda Zikova
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 4353–4392, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-4353-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-4353-2020, 2020
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Short summary
The paper establishes the fiducial reference of the GAW aerosol network providing the fully characterized value chain to the provision of four climate-relevant aerosol properties from ground-based sites. Data from almost 90 stations worldwide are reported for a reference year, 2017, providing a unique and very robust view of the variability of these variables worldwide. Current gaps in the GAW network are analysed and requirements for the Global Climate Monitoring System are proposed.
Martine Collaud Coen, Elisabeth Andrews, Andrés Alastuey, Todor Petkov Arsov, John Backman, Benjamin T. Brem, Nicolas Bukowiecki, Cédric Couret, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Harald Flentje, Markus Fiebig, Martin Gysel-Beer, Jenny L. Hand, András Hoffer, Rakesh Hooda, Christoph Hueglin, Warren Joubert, Melita Keywood, Jeong Eun Kim, Sang-Woo Kim, Casper Labuschagne, Neng-Huei Lin, Yong Lin, Cathrine Lund Myhre, Krista Luoma, Hassan Lyamani, Angela Marinoni, Olga L. Mayol-Bracero, Nikos Mihalopoulos, Marco Pandolfi, Natalia Prats, Anthony J. Prenni, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Ludwig Ries, Fabienne Reisen, Karine Sellegri, Sangeeta Sharma, Patrick Sheridan, James Patrick Sherman, Junying Sun, Gloria Titos, Elvis Torres, Thomas Tuch, Rolf Weller, Alfred Wiedensohler, Paul Zieger, and Paolo Laj
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Short summary
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Long-term trends of aerosol radiative properties (52 stations) prove that aerosol load has significantly decreased over the last 20 years. Scattering trends are negative in Europe (EU) and North America (NA), not ss in Asia, and show a mix of positive and negative trends at polar stations. Absorption has mainly negative trends. The single scattering albedo has positive trends in Asia and eastern EU and negative in western EU and NA, leading to a global positive median trend of 0.02 % per year.
Ádám Tóth, András Hoffer, Mihály Pósfai, Tibor Ajtai, Zoltán Kónya, Marianne Blazsó, Zsuzsanna Czégény, Gyula Kiss, Zoltán Bozóki, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 10407–10418, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10407-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10407-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric tar balls are abundant particles in biomass smoke and some of them were shown to be strongly light-absorbing. Being able to synthesize pure tar balls in the laboratory we deployed various analytical techniques to determine the chemical characteristics of these tar balls and to compare them with those of other light-absorbing particle types such as soot (black carbon, BC). The results have relevance in better representing these specific smoke particles in global climate models.
Marco Pandolfi, Lucas Alados-Arboledas, Andrés Alastuey, Marcos Andrade, Christo Angelov, Begoña Artiñano, John Backman, Urs Baltensperger, Paolo Bonasoni, Nicolas Bukowiecki, Martine Collaud Coen, Sébastien Conil, Esther Coz, Vincent Crenn, Vadimas Dudoitis, Marina Ealo, Kostas Eleftheriadis, Olivier Favez, Prodromos Fetfatzis, Markus Fiebig, Harald Flentje, Patrick Ginot, Martin Gysel, Bas Henzing, Andras Hoffer, Adela Holubova Smejkalova, Ivo Kalapov, Nikos Kalivitis, Giorgos Kouvarakis, Adam Kristensson, Markku Kulmala, Heikki Lihavainen, Chris Lunder, Krista Luoma, Hassan Lyamani, Angela Marinoni, Nikos Mihalopoulos, Marcel Moerman, José Nicolas, Colin O'Dowd, Tuukka Petäjä, Jean-Eudes Petit, Jean Marc Pichon, Nina Prokopciuk, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Sergio Rodríguez, Jean Sciare, Karine Sellegri, Erik Swietlicki, Gloria Titos, Thomas Tuch, Peter Tunved, Vidmantas Ulevicius, Aditya Vaishya, Milan Vana, Aki Virkkula, Stergios Vratolis, Ernest Weingartner, Alfred Wiedensohler, and Paolo Laj
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 7877–7911, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7877-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7877-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This investigation presents the variability in near-surface in situ aerosol particle light-scattering measurements obtained over the past decade at 28 measuring atmospheric observatories which are part of the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure, and most of them belong to the GAW network. This paper provides a comprehensive picture of the spatial and temporal variability of aerosol particles optical properties in Europe.
Lauren Schmeisser, Elisabeth Andrews, John A. Ogren, Patrick Sheridan, Anne Jefferson, Sangeeta Sharma, Jeong Eun Kim, James P. Sherman, Mar Sorribas, Ivo Kalapov, Todor Arsov, Christo Angelov, Olga L. Mayol-Bracero, Casper Labuschagne, Sang-Woo Kim, András Hoffer, Neng-Huei Lin, Hao-Ping Chia, Michael Bergin, Junying Sun, Peng Liu, and Hao Wu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 12097–12120, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-12097-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-12097-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Three methods are used to classify aerosol type from aerosol optical properties measured in situ at 24 surface sites. Classification methods work best at sites with stable, homogenous aerosol at particularly polluted and dust-prone continental and marine sites. Classification methods are poor at remote marine and Arctic sites. Using these methods to extrapolate aerosol type from optical properties can help determine aerosol radiative forcing and improve aerosol satellite retrieval algorithms.
András Hoffer, Ádám Tóth, Mihály Pósfai, Chul Eddy Chung, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 2353–2359, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-2353-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-2353-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon (BC) aerosols have been conventionally assumed to be the only light-absorbing carbonaceous particles that absorb visible light in the atmosphere. Here we report that, contrary to the conventional belief, tar balls (a specific type of organic aerosol particles from biomass burning) do absorb visible light more than previously thought. Our results support previous findings that tar balls play an important role in global warming.
A. Hoffer, A. Tóth, M. Pósfai, C. E. Chung, and A. Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-452, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-452, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon aerosols (BC) have been conventionally assumed to be the only light-absorbing carbonaceous particles in the atmosphere. Here we report that a specific type of organic aerosol particles from biomass burning also absorb light significantly. Particles were produced in the laboratory and their optical properties were measured. The results infer that the role of BC (including Diesel soot) in climate change has likely been overestimated in global climate models.
K. E. Yttri, J. Schnelle-Kreis, W. Maenhaut, G. Abbaszade, C. Alves, A. Bjerke, N. Bonnier, R. Bossi, M. Claeys, C. Dye, M. Evtyugina, D. García-Gacio, R. Hillamo, A. Hoffer, M. Hyder, Y. Iinuma, J.-L. Jaffrezo, A. Kasper-Giebl, G. Kiss, P. L. López-Mahia, C. Pio, C. Piot, C. Ramirez-Santa-Cruz, J. Sciare, K. Teinilä, R. Vermeylen, A. Vicente, and R. Zimmermann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 125–147, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-125-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-125-2015, 2015
A. Tóth, A. Hoffer, I. Nyirő-Kósa, M. Pósfai, and A. Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 6669–6675, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-6669-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-6669-2014, 2014
András Hoffer, Aida Meiramova, Ádám Tóth, Beatrix Jancsek-Turóczi, Gyula Kiss, Ágnes Rostási, Erika Andrea Levei, Luminita Marmureanu, Attila Machon, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1659–1671, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1659-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1659-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Specific tracer compounds identified previously in controlled test burnings of different waste types in the laboratory were detected and quantified in ambient PM10 samples collected in five Hungarian and four Romanian settlements. Back-of-the-envelope calculations based on the relative emission factors of individual tracers suggested that the contribution of solid waste burning particulate emissions to ambient PM10 mass concentrations may be as high as a few percent.
András Hoffer, Ádám Tóth, Beatrix Jancsek-Turóczi, Attila Machon, Aida Meiramova, Attila Nagy, Luminita Marmureanu, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17855–17864, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17855-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17855-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Due to the widespread use of plastics high amounts of waste are burned in households worldwide, emitting vast amounts of PM10 and PAHs into the atmosphere. In this work different types of common plastics were burned in the laboratory with a view to identifying potentially specific tracer compounds and determining their emission factors. The compounds found were also successfully identified in atmospheric PM10 samples, indicating their potential use as ambient tracers for illegal waste burning.
András Hoffer, Beatrix Jancsek-Turóczi, Ádám Tóth, Gyula Kiss, Anca Naghiu, Erika Andrea Levei, Luminita Marmureanu, Attila Machon, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 16135–16144, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-16135-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-16135-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Emission factors for PM10 and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are reported for the first time ever for the indoor combustion of 12 common types of municipal solid waste that are frequently burned in households worldwide. We have found that waste burning emits up to 40 times more PM10 and 800 times more PAHs than the combustion of dry firewood. Our finding highlights the need for coordinated actions against illegal waste combustion and the extreme health hazard associated with it.
Paolo Laj, Alessandro Bigi, Clémence Rose, Elisabeth Andrews, Cathrine Lund Myhre, Martine Collaud Coen, Yong Lin, Alfred Wiedensohler, Michael Schulz, John A. Ogren, Markus Fiebig, Jonas Gliß, Augustin Mortier, Marco Pandolfi, Tuukka Petäja, Sang-Woo Kim, Wenche Aas, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Olga Mayol-Bracero, Melita Keywood, Lorenzo Labrador, Pasi Aalto, Erik Ahlberg, Lucas Alados Arboledas, Andrés Alastuey, Marcos Andrade, Begoña Artíñano, Stina Ausmeel, Todor Arsov, Eija Asmi, John Backman, Urs Baltensperger, Susanne Bastian, Olaf Bath, Johan Paul Beukes, Benjamin T. Brem, Nicolas Bukowiecki, Sébastien Conil, Cedric Couret, Derek Day, Wan Dayantolis, Anna Degorska, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Prodromos Fetfatzis, Olivier Favez, Harald Flentje, Maria I. Gini, Asta Gregorič, Martin Gysel-Beer, A. Gannet Hallar, Jenny Hand, Andras Hoffer, Christoph Hueglin, Rakesh K. Hooda, Antti Hyvärinen, Ivo Kalapov, Nikos Kalivitis, Anne Kasper-Giebl, Jeong Eun Kim, Giorgos Kouvarakis, Irena Kranjc, Radovan Krejci, Markku Kulmala, Casper Labuschagne, Hae-Jung Lee, Heikki Lihavainen, Neng-Huei Lin, Gunter Löschau, Krista Luoma, Angela Marinoni, Sebastiao Martins Dos Santos, Frank Meinhardt, Maik Merkel, Jean-Marc Metzger, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Nhat Anh Nguyen, Jakub Ondracek, Noemi Pérez, Maria Rita Perrone, Jean-Eudes Petit, David Picard, Jean-Marc Pichon, Veronique Pont, Natalia Prats, Anthony Prenni, Fabienne Reisen, Salvatore Romano, Karine Sellegri, Sangeeta Sharma, Gerhard Schauer, Patrick Sheridan, James Patrick Sherman, Maik Schütze, Andreas Schwerin, Ralf Sohmer, Mar Sorribas, Martin Steinbacher, Junying Sun, Gloria Titos, Barbara Toczko, Thomas Tuch, Pierre Tulet, Peter Tunved, Ville Vakkari, Fernando Velarde, Patricio Velasquez, Paolo Villani, Sterios Vratolis, Sheng-Hsiang Wang, Kay Weinhold, Rolf Weller, Margarita Yela, Jesus Yus-Diez, Vladimir Zdimal, Paul Zieger, and Nadezda Zikova
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 4353–4392, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-4353-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-4353-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The paper establishes the fiducial reference of the GAW aerosol network providing the fully characterized value chain to the provision of four climate-relevant aerosol properties from ground-based sites. Data from almost 90 stations worldwide are reported for a reference year, 2017, providing a unique and very robust view of the variability of these variables worldwide. Current gaps in the GAW network are analysed and requirements for the Global Climate Monitoring System are proposed.
Martine Collaud Coen, Elisabeth Andrews, Andrés Alastuey, Todor Petkov Arsov, John Backman, Benjamin T. Brem, Nicolas Bukowiecki, Cédric Couret, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Harald Flentje, Markus Fiebig, Martin Gysel-Beer, Jenny L. Hand, András Hoffer, Rakesh Hooda, Christoph Hueglin, Warren Joubert, Melita Keywood, Jeong Eun Kim, Sang-Woo Kim, Casper Labuschagne, Neng-Huei Lin, Yong Lin, Cathrine Lund Myhre, Krista Luoma, Hassan Lyamani, Angela Marinoni, Olga L. Mayol-Bracero, Nikos Mihalopoulos, Marco Pandolfi, Natalia Prats, Anthony J. Prenni, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Ludwig Ries, Fabienne Reisen, Karine Sellegri, Sangeeta Sharma, Patrick Sheridan, James Patrick Sherman, Junying Sun, Gloria Titos, Elvis Torres, Thomas Tuch, Rolf Weller, Alfred Wiedensohler, Paul Zieger, and Paolo Laj
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 8867–8908, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-8867-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-8867-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Long-term trends of aerosol radiative properties (52 stations) prove that aerosol load has significantly decreased over the last 20 years. Scattering trends are negative in Europe (EU) and North America (NA), not ss in Asia, and show a mix of positive and negative trends at polar stations. Absorption has mainly negative trends. The single scattering albedo has positive trends in Asia and eastern EU and negative in western EU and NA, leading to a global positive median trend of 0.02 % per year.
Ádám Tóth, András Hoffer, Mihály Pósfai, Tibor Ajtai, Zoltán Kónya, Marianne Blazsó, Zsuzsanna Czégény, Gyula Kiss, Zoltán Bozóki, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 10407–10418, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10407-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-10407-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric tar balls are abundant particles in biomass smoke and some of them were shown to be strongly light-absorbing. Being able to synthesize pure tar balls in the laboratory we deployed various analytical techniques to determine the chemical characteristics of these tar balls and to compare them with those of other light-absorbing particle types such as soot (black carbon, BC). The results have relevance in better representing these specific smoke particles in global climate models.
Marco Pandolfi, Lucas Alados-Arboledas, Andrés Alastuey, Marcos Andrade, Christo Angelov, Begoña Artiñano, John Backman, Urs Baltensperger, Paolo Bonasoni, Nicolas Bukowiecki, Martine Collaud Coen, Sébastien Conil, Esther Coz, Vincent Crenn, Vadimas Dudoitis, Marina Ealo, Kostas Eleftheriadis, Olivier Favez, Prodromos Fetfatzis, Markus Fiebig, Harald Flentje, Patrick Ginot, Martin Gysel, Bas Henzing, Andras Hoffer, Adela Holubova Smejkalova, Ivo Kalapov, Nikos Kalivitis, Giorgos Kouvarakis, Adam Kristensson, Markku Kulmala, Heikki Lihavainen, Chris Lunder, Krista Luoma, Hassan Lyamani, Angela Marinoni, Nikos Mihalopoulos, Marcel Moerman, José Nicolas, Colin O'Dowd, Tuukka Petäjä, Jean-Eudes Petit, Jean Marc Pichon, Nina Prokopciuk, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Sergio Rodríguez, Jean Sciare, Karine Sellegri, Erik Swietlicki, Gloria Titos, Thomas Tuch, Peter Tunved, Vidmantas Ulevicius, Aditya Vaishya, Milan Vana, Aki Virkkula, Stergios Vratolis, Ernest Weingartner, Alfred Wiedensohler, and Paolo Laj
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 7877–7911, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7877-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7877-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This investigation presents the variability in near-surface in situ aerosol particle light-scattering measurements obtained over the past decade at 28 measuring atmospheric observatories which are part of the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure, and most of them belong to the GAW network. This paper provides a comprehensive picture of the spatial and temporal variability of aerosol particles optical properties in Europe.
Lauren Schmeisser, Elisabeth Andrews, John A. Ogren, Patrick Sheridan, Anne Jefferson, Sangeeta Sharma, Jeong Eun Kim, James P. Sherman, Mar Sorribas, Ivo Kalapov, Todor Arsov, Christo Angelov, Olga L. Mayol-Bracero, Casper Labuschagne, Sang-Woo Kim, András Hoffer, Neng-Huei Lin, Hao-Ping Chia, Michael Bergin, Junying Sun, Peng Liu, and Hao Wu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 12097–12120, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-12097-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-12097-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Three methods are used to classify aerosol type from aerosol optical properties measured in situ at 24 surface sites. Classification methods work best at sites with stable, homogenous aerosol at particularly polluted and dust-prone continental and marine sites. Classification methods are poor at remote marine and Arctic sites. Using these methods to extrapolate aerosol type from optical properties can help determine aerosol radiative forcing and improve aerosol satellite retrieval algorithms.
Gyula Kiss, Kornélia Imre, Ágnes Molnár, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 2477–2484, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-2477-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-2477-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
As a result of multiple efforts the PM10 mass concentration has been reduced in many developed countries in the past 2 decades. However, as the PM10 mass concentrations are decreasing, the potential relative bias caused by water interactions is likely becoming more significant. This is simply due to the fact that the bias caused by adsorption or desorption of water on and from the filter medium becomes proportionally more significant relative to the aerosol mass deposited on the filter.
András Hoffer, Ádám Tóth, Mihály Pósfai, Chul Eddy Chung, and András Gelencsér
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 2353–2359, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-2353-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-2353-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon (BC) aerosols have been conventionally assumed to be the only light-absorbing carbonaceous particles that absorb visible light in the atmosphere. Here we report that, contrary to the conventional belief, tar balls (a specific type of organic aerosol particles from biomass burning) do absorb visible light more than previously thought. Our results support previous findings that tar balls play an important role in global warming.
A. Hoffer, A. Tóth, M. Pósfai, C. E. Chung, and A. Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-452, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-452, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon aerosols (BC) have been conventionally assumed to be the only light-absorbing carbonaceous particles in the atmosphere. Here we report that a specific type of organic aerosol particles from biomass burning also absorb light significantly. Particles were produced in the laboratory and their optical properties were measured. The results infer that the role of BC (including Diesel soot) in climate change has likely been overestimated in global climate models.
K. E. Yttri, J. Schnelle-Kreis, W. Maenhaut, G. Abbaszade, C. Alves, A. Bjerke, N. Bonnier, R. Bossi, M. Claeys, C. Dye, M. Evtyugina, D. García-Gacio, R. Hillamo, A. Hoffer, M. Hyder, Y. Iinuma, J.-L. Jaffrezo, A. Kasper-Giebl, G. Kiss, P. L. López-Mahia, C. Pio, C. Piot, C. Ramirez-Santa-Cruz, J. Sciare, K. Teinilä, R. Vermeylen, A. Vicente, and R. Zimmermann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 125–147, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-125-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-125-2015, 2015
A. Tóth, A. Hoffer, I. Nyirő-Kósa, M. Pósfai, and A. Gelencsér
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 6669–6675, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-6669-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-6669-2014, 2014
Related subject area
Subject: Aerosols | Research Activity: Laboratory Studies | Altitude Range: Troposphere | Science Focus: Physics (physical properties and processes)
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Measurement report: The ice-nucleating activity of lichen sampled in a northern European boreal forest
Viscosity of aqueous ammonium nitrate–organic particles: equilibrium partitioning may be a reasonable assumption for most tropospheric conditions
Role of sea spray aerosol at the air–sea interface in transporting aromatic acids to the atmosphere
Modeling the influence of carbon branching structure on secondary organic aerosol formation via multiphase reactions of alkanes
Technical note: Characterization of a single-beam gradient force aerosol optical tweezer for droplet trapping, phase transition monitoring, and morphology studies
Soot aerosols from commercial aviation engines are poor ice-nucleating particles at cirrus cloud temperatures
Contribution of brown carbon to light absorption in emissions of European residential biomass combustion appliances
Measurement report: Water diffusion in single suspended phase-separated aerosols
Water activity and surface tension of aqueous ammonium sulfate and D-glucose aerosol nanoparticles
Jet aircraft lubrication oil droplets as contrail ice-forming particles
A study on the influence of inorganic ions, organic carbon and microstructure on the hygroscopic property of soot
Is transport of microplastics different from mineral particles? Idealized wind tunnel studies on polyethylene microspheres
Insights into secondary organic aerosol formation from the day- and nighttime oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and furans in an oxidation flow reactor
Analysis of insoluble particles in hailstones in China
Influence of acidity on liquid–liquid phase transitions of mixed secondary organic aerosol (SOA) proxy–inorganic aerosol droplets
Deposition freezing, pore condensation freezing and adsorption: three processes, one description?
Measurements and calculations of enhanced side- and back-scattering of visible radiation by black carbon aggregates
Direct observation for relative-humidity-dependent mixing states of submicron particles containing organic surfactants and inorganic salts
Complex refractive index and single scattering albedo of Icelandic dust in the shortwave part of the spectrum
Volatility of aerosol particles from NO3 oxidation of various biogenic organic precursors
Saturation vapor pressure characterization of selected low-volatility organic compounds using a residence time chamber
Influence of the previous North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the spring dust aerosols over North China
HUB: a method to model and extract the distribution of ice nucleation temperatures from drop-freezing experiments
Size-dependent hygroscopicity of levoglucosan and D-glucose aerosol nanoparticles
Technical note: Sublimation of frozen CsCl solutions in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) – determining the number and size of salt particles relevant to sea salt aerosols
Microphysics of liquid water in sub-10 nm ultrafine aerosol particles
Comparing the ice nucleation properties of the kaolin minerals kaolinite and halloysite
Physicochemical properties of charcoal aerosols derived from biomass pyrolysis affect their ice-nucleating abilities at cirrus and mixed-phase cloud conditions
Reconsideration of surface tension and phase state effects on cloud condensation nuclei activity based on the atomic force microscopy measurement
Hygroscopicity and CCN potential of DMS-derived aerosol particles
Hybrid water adsorption and solubility partitioning for aerosol hygroscopicity and droplet growth
Experimental development of a lake spray source function and its model implementation for Great Lakes surface emissions
The effectiveness of the coagulation sink of 3–10 nm atmospheric particles
What caused the interdecadal shift in the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impact on dust mass concentration over northwestern South Asia?
Measurement report: An exploratory study of fluorescence and cloud condensation nuclei activity of urban aerosols in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Viscosity and physical state of sucrose mixed with ammonium sulfate droplets
Distribution and stable carbon isotopic composition of dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids and α-dicarbonyls in fresh and aged biomass burning aerosols
Time dependence of heterogeneous ice nucleation by ambient aerosols: laboratory observations and a formulation for models
Laboratory studies of ice nucleation onto bare and internally mixed soot–sulfuric acid particles
Enhanced soot particle ice nucleation ability induced by aggregate compaction and densification
Opinion: Insights into updating Ambient Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC
On the evolution of sub- and super-saturated water uptake of secondary organic aerosol in chamber experiments from mixed precursors
Hygroscopicity of organic compounds as a function of organic functionality, water solubility, molecular weight, and oxidation level
Particle emissions from a modern heavy-duty diesel engine as ice nuclei in immersion freezing mode: a laboratory study on fossil and renewable fuels
Johannes Heuser, Claudia Di Biagio, Jérôme Yon, Mathieu Cazaunau, Antonin Bergé, Edouard Pangui, Marco Zanatta, Laura Renzi, Angela Marinoni, Satoshi Inomata, Chenjie Yu, Vera Bernardoni, Servanne Chevaillier, Daniel Ferry, Paolo Laj, Michel Maillé, Dario Massabò, Federico Mazzei, Gael Noyalet, Hiroshi Tanimoto, Brice Temime-Roussel, Roberta Vecchi, Virginia Vernocchi, Paola Formenti, Bénédicte Picquet-Varrault, and Jean-François Doussin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 6407–6428, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6407-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6407-2025, 2025
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The spectral optical properties of combustion soot aerosols with varying black (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) content were studied in an atmospheric simulation chamber. Measurements of the mass spectral absorption cross section (MAC), supplemented by literature data, allowed us to establish a generalised exponential relationship between the spectral absorption and the elemental-to-total-carbon ratio (EC / TC) in soot. This relationship can provide a useful tool for modelling the properties of soot.
Olivia M. Jackson, Aristeidis Voliotis, Thomas J. Bannan, Simon P. O'Meara, Gordon McFiggans, Dave Johnson, and Hugh Coe
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 6257–6272, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6257-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6257-2025, 2025
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This paper details a novel method of measuring the volatility of pesticides using the Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols coupled with a chemical ionisation mass spectrometer (FIGAERO-CIMS) calibrated using a set of poly(ethylene) glycols. This is compared to literature values and common models. The results show that the method used primarily matches current literature values. Additionally, a pesticide’s volatility as an indicator of the likelihood of atmospheric transport occurring is explored.
Chengyi Fan, Bishuo He, Shuqi Guo, Jie Qiu, and Chunsheng Zhao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5761–5771, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5761-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5761-2025, 2025
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Marine aerosols play a critical role in weather and climate, and their real part of the refractive index (RRI) is a key factor in their radiative effects. We present a study of RRI measurements using optical tweezer technology and find that the calculated results of RRI using the traditional method disagree with the measurements. A parameterization of the RRI and relative humidity relationship is proposed, and it will improve the radiation calculation in numerical models.
Alison Bain, Kunal Ghosh, Konstantin Tumashevich, Nønne L. Prisle, and Bryan R. Bzdek
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5633–5645, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5633-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5633-2025, 2025
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We measure the surface tension of picoliter-volume droplets containing strong ionic surfactants and cosolutes and compare this to surface tension predictions using two independent surfactant partitioning models. Under high-water-activity conditions, experimental measurements and model predictions show no change when NaCl cosolute is replaced with sea salt. Model predictions show that total surfactant concentrations in the range of tens to hundreds of millimolar are required to lower the surface tension of accumulation-mode aerosol.
Silvia Giulia Danelli, Lorenzo Caponi, Marco Brunoldi, Matilde De Camillis, Dario Massabò, Federico Mazzei, Tommaso Isolabella, Annalisa Pascarella, Paolo Prati, Matteo Santostefano, Francesca Tarchino, Virginia Vernocchi, and Paolo Brotto
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1447, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1447, 2025
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This study examines optical properties and the variability of the mass absorption coefficient of carbonaceous aerosols produced by the combustion of different fuels. Experiments, conducted in an atmospheric simulation chamber, tested different methods of sampling and analyzing carbonaceous aerosols, with a focus on workplace environments. Results highlight the need to understand the variability in aerosol optical properties for accurate monitoring and health and environmental impact assessments.
Kathryn A. Moore, Thomas C. J. Hill, Chamika K. Madawala, Raymond J. Leibensperger III, Samantha Greeney, Christopher D. Cappa, M. Dale Stokes, Grant B. Deane, Christopher Lee, Alexei V. Tivanski, Kimberly A. Prather, and Paul J. DeMott
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 3131–3159, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3131-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3131-2025, 2025
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This article presents results from the first study in a new wind–wave channel at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The experiment tested how wind over the ocean surface influences production of sea spray particles, which are important for radiative forcing and cloud formation in the atmosphere. We found that particle concentration and chemical composition varied with wind speed and that variations were driven by changes in wind and wave breaking rather than seawater biology or chemistry.
Ulrike Proske, Michael P. Adams, Grace C. E. Porter, Mark A. Holden, Jaana Bäck, and Benjamin J. Murray
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 979–995, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-979-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-979-2025, 2025
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Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) aid the freezing of water droplets in clouds and thus modify cloud properties. In a campaign in a Finnish boreal forest, biological INPs were observed, despite many of their potential biological sources being snow-covered. We sampled tree-dwelling lichens that were not covered in snow and tested their ice nucleation ability in the laboratory. We found that the lichen harbours INPs, which may be important in similar snowy environments.
Liviana K. Klein, Allan K. Bertram, Andreas Zuend, Florence Gregson, and Ulrich K. Krieger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13341–13359, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13341-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13341-2024, 2024
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The viscosity of ammonium nitrate–sucrose–H2O was quantified with three methods ranging from liquid to solid state depending on the relative humidity. Moreover, the corresponding estimated internal aerosol mixing times remained below 1 h for most tropospheric conditions, making equilibrium partitioning a reasonable assumption.
Yaru Song, Jianlong Li, Narcisse Tsona Tchinda, Kun Li, and Lin Du
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5847–5862, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5847-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5847-2024, 2024
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Aromatic acids can be transferred from seawater to the atmosphere through bubble bursting. The air–sea transfer efficiency of aromatic acids was evaluated by simulating SSA generation with a plunging jet. As a whole, the transfer capacity of aromatic acids may depend on their functional groups and on the bridging effect of cations, as well as their concentration in seawater, as these factors influence the global emission flux of aromatic acids via SSA.
Azad Madhu, Myoseon Jang, and Yujin Jo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5585–5602, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5585-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5585-2024, 2024
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Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from branched alkanes (BAs) was simulated using the UNIPAR model, which predicted SOA growth via multiphase reactions of hydrocarbons, and compared with chamber data. Product distributions (PDs) of BAs were created by extrapolating PDs of linear alkanes (LAs). To account for methyl branching, an autoxidation reduction factor was applied to PDs. BAs in diesel fuel were shown to produce a higher proportion of SOA compared with LAs.
Xiangyu Pei, Yikan Meng, Yueling Chen, Huichao Liu, Yao Song, Zhengning Xu, Fei Zhang, Thomas C. Preston, and Zhibin Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5235–5246, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5235-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5235-2024, 2024
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An aerosol optical tweezer (AOT) Raman spectroscopy system is developed to capture a single aerosol droplet for phase transition monitoring and morphology studies. Rapid droplet capture is achieved and accurate droplet size and refractive index are retrieved. Results indicate that mixed inorganic/organic droplets are more inclined to form core–shell morphology when RH decreases. The phase transitions of secondary mixed organic aerosol/inorganic droplets vary with their precursors.
Baptiste Testa, Lukas Durdina, Peter A. Alpert, Fabian Mahrt, Christopher H. Dreimol, Jacinta Edebeli, Curdin Spirig, Zachary C. J. Decker, Julien Anet, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 4537–4567, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4537-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4537-2024, 2024
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Laboratory experiments on the ice nucleation of real commercial aviation soot particles are investigated for their cirrus cloud formation potential. Our results show that aircraft-emitted soot in the upper troposphere will be poor ice-nucleating particles. Measuring the soot particle morphology and modifying their mixing state allow us to elucidate why these particles are ineffective at forming ice, in contrast to previously used soot surrogates.
Satish Basnet, Anni Hartikainen, Aki Virkkula, Pasi Yli-Pirilä, Miika Kortelainen, Heikki Suhonen, Laura Kilpeläinen, Mika Ihalainen, Sampsa Väätäinen, Juho Louhisalmi, Markus Somero, Jarkko Tissari, Gert Jakobi, Ralf Zimmermann, Antti Kilpeläinen, and Olli Sippula
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 3197–3215, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3197-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3197-2024, 2024
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Brown carbon (BrC) emissions were estimated, for residential wood combustion (RWC) from various northern European appliances, utilizing an extensive seven-wavelength aethalometer dataset and thermal–optical carbon analysis. The contribution of BrC370–950 to the absorption of visible light varied between 1 % and 21 %, and was linked with fuel moisture content and combustion efficiency. This study provides important information required for assessing the climate effects of RWC emissions.
Yu-Kai Tong, Zhijun Wu, Min Hu, and Anpei Ye
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2937–2950, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2937-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2937-2024, 2024
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The interplay between aerosols and moisture is one of the most crucial atmospheric processes. However, to date, literature results on the influence of phase separation on water diffusion in aerosols are divergent. This work directly unveiled the water diffusion process in single suspended phase-separated microdroplets and quantitatively analyzed the diffusion rate and extent. The results show that diffusion limitations and certain molecule clusters existed in the phase-separated aerosols.
Eugene F. Mikhailov, Sergey S. Vlasenko, and Alexei A. Kiselev
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2971–2984, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2971-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2971-2024, 2024
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Surface tension and water activity are key thermodynamic parameters determining the impact of atmospheric aerosols on human health and climate. However, these parameters are not well constrained for nanoparticles composed of organic and inorganic compounds. In this study, we determined for the first time the water activity and surface tension of mixed organic/inorganic nanodroplets by applying a differential Köhler analysis (DKA) to hygroscopic growth measurements.
Joel Ponsonby, Leon King, Benjamin J. Murray, and Marc E. J. Stettler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2045–2058, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2045-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2045-2024, 2024
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Aerosol emissions from aircraft engines contribute to the formation of contrails, which have a climate impact as important as that of aviation’s CO2 emissions. For the first time, we experimentally investigate the freezing behaviour of water droplets formed on jet lubrication oil aerosol. We show that they can activate to form water droplets and discuss their potential impact on contrail formation. Our study has implications for contrails produced by future aircraft engine and fuel technologies.
Zhanyu Su, Lanxiadi Chen, Yuan Liu, Peng Zhang, Tianzeng Chen, Biwu Chu, Mingjin Tang, Qingxin Ma, and Hong He
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 993–1003, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-993-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-993-2024, 2024
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In this study, different soot particles were analyzed to better understand their behavior. It was discovered that water-soluble substances in soot facilitate water adsorption at low humidity while increasing the number of water layers at high humidity. Soot from organic fuels exhibits hygroscopicity influenced by organic carbon and microstructure. Additionally, the presence of sulfate ions due to the oxidation of SO2 enhances soot's hygroscopicity.
Eike Maximilian Esders, Sebastian Sittl, Inka Krammel, Wolfgang Babel, Georg Papastavrou, and Christoph Karl Thomas
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15835–15851, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15835-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15835-2023, 2023
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Do microplastics behave differently from mineral particles when they are exposed to wind? We observed plastic and mineral particles in a wind tunnel and measured at what wind speeds the particles start to move. The results indicate that microplastics start to move at smaller wind speeds as they weigh less and are less sticky. Hence, we think that microplastics also move more easily in the environment.
Abd El Rahman El Mais, Barbara D'Anna, Luka Drinovec, Andrew T. Lambe, Zhe Peng, Jean-Eudes Petit, Olivier Favez, Selim Aït-Aïssa, and Alexandre Albinet
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15077–15096, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15077-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15077-2023, 2023
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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) and furans are key precursors of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) related to biomass burning emissions. We evaluated and compared the formation yields, and the physical and light absorption properties, of laboratory-generated SOAs from the oxidation of such compounds for both, day- and nighttime reactivities. The results illustrate that PAHs are large SOA precursors and may contribute significantly to the biomass burning brown carbon in the atmosphere.
Haifan Zhang, Xiangyu Lin, Qinghong Zhang, Kai Bi, Chan-Pang Ng, Yangze Ren, Huiwen Xue, Li Chen, and Zhuolin Chang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 13957–13971, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13957-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13957-2023, 2023
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This work is the first study to simultaneously analyze the number concentrations and species of insoluble particles in hailstones. The size distribution of insoluble particles for each species vary greatly in different hailstorms but little in shells. Two classic size distribution modes of organics and dust were fitted for the description of insoluble particles in deep convection. Combining this study with future experiments will lead to refinement of weather and climate models.
Yueling Chen, Xiangyu Pei, Huichao Liu, Yikan Meng, Zhengning Xu, Fei Zhang, Chun Xiong, Thomas C. Preston, and Zhibin Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10255–10265, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10255-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10255-2023, 2023
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The impact of acidity on the phase transition behavior of levitated aerosol particles was examined. Our results revealed that lower acidity decreases the separation relative humidity of aerosol droplets mixed with ammonium sulfate and secondary organic aerosol proxy. Our research suggests that in real atmospheric conditions, with the high acidity found in many ambient aerosol particles, droplets encounter heightened impediments to phase separation and tend to display a homogeneous structure.
Mária Lbadaoui-Darvas, Ari Laaksonen, and Athanasios Nenes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10057–10074, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10057-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10057-2023, 2023
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Heterogeneous ice nucleation is the main ice formation mechanism in clouds. The mechanism of different freezing modes is to date unknown, which results in large model biases. Experiments do not allow for direct observation of ice nucleation at its native resolution. This work uses first principles molecular simulations to determine the mechanism of the least-understood ice nucleation mode and link it to adsorption through a novel modeling framework that unites ice and droplet formation.
Carynelisa Haspel, Cuiqi Zhang, Martin J. Wolf, Daniel J. Cziczo, and Maor Sela
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10091–10115, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10091-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10091-2023, 2023
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Small particles, commonly termed aerosols, can be found throughout the atmosphere and come from both natural and anthropogenic sources. One important type of aerosol is black carbon (BC). In this study, we conducted laboratory measurements of light scattering by particles meant to mimic atmospheric BC and compared them to calculations of scattering. We find that it is likely that calculations underpredict the scattering by BC particles of certain polarizations of light in certain directions.
Chun Xiong, Binyu Kuang, Fei Zhang, Xiangyu Pei, Zhengning Xu, and Zhibin Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 8979–8991, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8979-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8979-2023, 2023
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In hydration, an apparent water diffusion hindrance by an organic surfactant shell was confirmed, raising the inorganic deliquescence relative humidity (RH) to a nearly saturated condition. In dehydration, phase separations were observed for inorganic surfactant systems, showing a strong dependence on the organic molecular
oxygen-to-carbon ratio. Our results could improve fundamental knowledge about aerosol mixing states and decrease uncertainty in model estimations of global radiative effects.
Clarissa Baldo, Paola Formenti, Claudia Di Biagio, Gongda Lu, Congbo Song, Mathieu Cazaunau, Edouard Pangui, Jean-Francois Doussin, Pavla Dagsson-Waldhauserova, Olafur Arnalds, David Beddows, A. Robert MacKenzie, and Zongbo Shi
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7975–8000, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7975-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7975-2023, 2023
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This paper presents new shortwave spectral complex refractive index and single scattering albedo data for Icelandic dust. Our results show that the imaginary part of the complex refractive index of Icelandic dust is at the upper end of the range of low-latitude dust. Furthermore, we observed that Icelandic dust is more absorbing towards the near-infrared, which we attribute to its high magnetite content. These findings are important for modeling dust aerosol radiative effects in the Arctic.
Emelie L. Graham, Cheng Wu, David M. Bell, Amelie Bertrand, Sophie L. Haslett, Urs Baltensperger, Imad El Haddad, Radovan Krejci, Ilona Riipinen, and Claudia Mohr
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7347–7362, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7347-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7347-2023, 2023
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The volatility of an aerosol particle is an important parameter for describing its atmospheric lifetime. We studied the volatility of secondary organic aerosols from nitrate-initiated oxidation of three biogenic precursors with experimental methods and model simulations. We saw higher volatility than for the corresponding ozone system, and our simulations produced variable results with different parameterizations which warrant a re-evaluation of the treatment of the nitrate functional group.
Zijun Li, Noora Hyttinen, Miika Vainikka, Olli-Pekka Tikkasalo, Siegfried Schobesberger, and Taina Yli-Juuti
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6863–6877, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6863-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6863-2023, 2023
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The saturation vapor pressure (psat) of low-volatility organic compounds (LVOCs) governs their partitioning between the gas and particle phases. To estimate the psat of selected LVOCs, we performed particle evaporation measurements in a residence time chamber at a temperature setting relevant to atmospheric aerosol formation and conducted state-of-the-art computational calculations. We found good agreement between the experimentally measured and model-estimated psat values for most LVOCs.
Yan Li, Falei Xu, Juan Feng, Mengying Du, Wenjun Song, Chao Li, and Wenjing Zhao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6021–6042, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6021-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6021-2023, 2023
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There is a significantly negative relationship between boreal winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and dust aerosols (DAs) in the eastern part of China (30–40°N, 105–120°E), which is not a DA source area but is severely affected by the dust events (DEs). Under the effect of the NAO negative phase, main atmospheric circulation during the DEs is characterized by variation of the transient eddy flux. The work is of reference value to the prediction of DEs and the understanding of their causes.
Ingrid de Almeida Ribeiro, Konrad Meister, and Valeria Molinero
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 5623–5639, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5623-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5623-2023, 2023
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Ice formation is a key atmospheric process facilitated by a wide range of aerosols. We present a method to model and interpret ice nucleation experiments and extract the distribution of the potency of nucleation sites. We use the method to optimize the conditions of laboratory sampling and extract distributions of ice nucleation temperatures from bacteria, fungi, and pollen. These reveal unforeseen subpopulations of nuclei in these systems and how they respond to changes in their environment.
Ting Lei, Hang Su, Nan Ma, Ulrich Pöschl, Alfred Wiedensohler, and Yafang Cheng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4763–4774, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4763-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4763-2023, 2023
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We investigate the hygroscopic behavior of levoglucosan and D-glucose nanoparticles using a nano-HTDMA. There is a weak size dependence of the hygroscopic growth factor of levoglucosan and D-glucose with diameters down to 20 nm, while a strong size dependence of the hygroscopic growth factor of D-glucose has been clearly observed in the size range 6 to 20 nm. The use of the DKA method leads to good agreement with the hygroscopic growth factor of glucose nanoparticles with diameters down to 6 nm.
Lubica Vetráková, Vilém Neděla, Kamila Závacká, Xin Yang, and Dominik Heger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 4463–4488, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4463-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-4463-2023, 2023
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Salt aerosols are important to polar atmospheric chemistry and global climate. Therefore, we utilized a unique electron microscope to identify the most suitable conditions for formation of the small salt (CsCl) particles, proxies of the aerosols, from sublimating salty snow. Very low sublimation temperature and low salt concentration are needed for formation of such particles. These observations may help us to better understand polar spring ozone depletion and bromine explosion events.
Xiaohan Li and Ian C. Bourg
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2525–2556, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2525-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2525-2023, 2023
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Aerosol particles with sizes smaller than 50 nm impact cloud formation and precipitation. Representation of this effect is hindered by limited understanding of the properties of liquid water in these particles. Our simulations of aerosol particles containing salt or organic compounds reveal that water enters a less cohesive phase at droplet sizes below 4 nm. This effect causes important deviations from theoretical predictions of aerosol properties, including phase state and hygroscopic growth.
Kristian Klumpp, Claudia Marcolli, Ana Alonso-Hellweg, Christopher H. Dreimol, and Thomas Peter
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1579–1598, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1579-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1579-2023, 2023
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The prerequisites of a particle surface for efficient ice nucleation are still poorly understood. This study compares the ice nucleation activity of two chemically identical but morphologically different minerals (kaolinite and halloysite). We observe, on average, not only higher ice nucleation activities for halloysite than kaolinite but also higher diversity between individual samples. We identify the particle edges as being the most likely site for ice nucleation.
Fabian Mahrt, Carolin Rösch, Kunfeng Gao, Christopher H. Dreimol, Maria A. Zawadowicz, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1285–1308, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1285-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1285-2023, 2023
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Major aerosol types emitted by biomass burning include soot, ash, and charcoal particles. Here, we investigated the ice nucleation activity of 400 nm size-selected particles of two different pyrolyis-derived charcoal types in the mixed phase and cirrus cloud regime. We find that ice nucleation is constrained to cirrus cloud conditions, takes place via pore condensation and freezing, and is largely governed by the particle porosity and mineral content.
Chun Xiong, Xueyan Chen, Xiaolei Ding, Binyu Kuang, Xiangyu Pei, Zhengning Xu, Shikuan Yang, Huan Hu, and Zhibin Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 16123–16135, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-16123-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-16123-2022, 2022
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Water surface tension is applied widely in current aerosol–cloud models but could be inappropriate in the presence of atmospheric surfactants. With cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurement results of mixed inorganic salt and dicarboxylic acid particles, we concluded that surface tension reduction and phase state should be carefully considered in aerosol–cloud interactions. Our results could help to decease uncertainties in climate models.
Bernadette Rosati, Sini Isokääntä, Sigurd Christiansen, Mads Mørk Jensen, Shamjad P. Moosakutty, Robin Wollesen de Jonge, Andreas Massling, Marianne Glasius, Jonas Elm, Annele Virtanen, and Merete Bilde
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 13449–13466, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13449-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13449-2022, 2022
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Sulfate aerosols have a strong influence on climate. Due to the reduction in sulfur-based fossil fuels, natural sulfur emissions play an increasingly important role. Studies investigating the climate relevance of natural sulfur aerosols are scarce. We study the water uptake of such particles in the laboratory, demonstrating a high potential to take up water and form cloud droplets. During atmospheric transit, chemical processing affects the particles’ composition and thus their water uptake.
Kanishk Gohil, Chun-Ning Mao, Dewansh Rastogi, Chao Peng, Mingjin Tang, and Akua Asa-Awuku
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12769–12787, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12769-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12769-2022, 2022
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The Hybrid Activity Model (HAM) is a promising new droplet growth model that can be potentially used for the analysis of any type of atmospheric compound. HAM may potentially improve the representation of hygroscopicity of organic aerosols in large-scale global climate models (GCMs), hence reducing the uncertainties in the climate forcing due to the aerosol indirect effect.
Charbel Harb and Hosein Foroutan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 11759–11779, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11759-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11759-2022, 2022
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A model representation of lake spray aerosol (LSA) ejection from freshwater breaking waves is crucial for understanding their climatic and public health impacts. We develop an LSA emission parameterization and implement it in an atmospheric model to investigate Great Lakes surface emissions. We find that the same breaking wave is likely to produce fewer aerosols in freshwater than in saltwater and that Great Lakes emissions influence the regional aerosol burden and can reach the cloud layer.
Runlong Cai, Ella Häkkinen, Chao Yan, Jingkun Jiang, Markku Kulmala, and Juha Kangasluoma
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 11529–11541, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11529-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11529-2022, 2022
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The influences of new particle formation on the climate and air quality are governed by particle survival, which has been under debate due to uncertainties in the coagulation sink. Here we measure the coagulation coefficient of sub-10 nm particles and demonstrate that collisions between the freshly nucleated and background particles can effectively lead to coagulation. We further show that the effective coagulation sink is consistent with the new particle formation measured in urban Beijing.
Lamei Shi, Jiahua Zhang, Da Zhang, Jingwen Wang, Xianglei Meng, Yuqin Liu, and Fengmei Yao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 11255–11274, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11255-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11255-2022, 2022
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Dust impacts climate and human life. Analyzing the interdecadal change in dust activity and its influence factors is crucial for disaster mitigation. Based on a linear regression method, this study revealed the interdecadal variability of relationships between ENSO and dust over northwestern South Asia from 1982 to 2014 and analyzed the effects of atmospheric factors on this interdecadal variability. The result sheds new light on numerical simulation involving the interdecadal variation of dust.
Bighnaraj Sarangi, Darrel Baumgardner, Benjamin Bolaños-Rosero, and Olga L. Mayol-Bracero
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9647–9661, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9647-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9647-2022, 2022
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Here, the fluorescent characteristics and cloud-forming efficiency of aerosols at an urban site in Puerto Rico are discussed. The results from this pilot study highlight the capabilities of ultraviolet-induced fluorescence (UV-IF) measurements for characterizing the properties of fluorescing aerosol particles, as they relate to the daily evolution of primary biological aerosol particles. This work has established a database of measurements on which future, longer-term studies will be initiated.
Rani Jeong, Joseph Lilek, Andreas Zuend, Rongshuang Xu, Man Nin Chan, Dohyun Kim, Hi Gyu Moon, and Mijung Song
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 8805–8817, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8805-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-8805-2022, 2022
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In this study, the viscosities of particles of sucrose–H2O, AS–H2O, and sucrose–AS–H2O for OIRs of 4:1, 1:1, and 1:4 for decreasing RH, were quantified by poke-and-flow and bead-mobility techniques at 293 ± 1 K. Based on the viscosity results, the particles of binary and ternary systems ranged from liquid to semisolid, and even the solid state depending on the RH. Moreover, we compared the measured viscosities of ternary systems to the predicted viscosities with excellent agreement.
Minxia Shen, Kin Fai Ho, Wenting Dai, Suixin Liu, Ting Zhang, Qiyuan Wang, Jingjing Meng, Judith C. Chow, John G. Watson, Junji Cao, and Jianjun Li
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7489–7504, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7489-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7489-2022, 2022
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Looking at characteristics and δ13C compositions of dicarboxylic acids and related compounds in BB aerosols, we used a combined combustion and aging system to generate fresh and aged aerosols from burning straw. The results showed the emission factors (EFaged) of total diacids of aging experiments were around an order of magnitude higher than EFfresh. This meant that dicarboxylic acids are involved with secondary photochemical processes in the atmosphere rather than primary emissions from BB.
Jonas K. F. Jakobsson, Deepak B. Waman, Vaughan T. J. Phillips, and Thomas Bjerring Kristensen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 6717–6748, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6717-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6717-2022, 2022
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Long-lived cold-layer clouds at subzero temperatures are observed to be remarkably persistent in their generation of ice particles and snow precipitation. There is uncertainty about why this is so. This motivates the present lab study to observe the long-term ice-nucleating ability of aerosol samples from the real troposphere. Time dependence of their ice nucleation is observed to be weak in lab experiments exposing the samples to isothermal conditions for up to about 10 h.
Kunfeng Gao, Chong-Wen Zhou, Eszter J. Barthazy Meier, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5331–5364, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5331-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5331-2022, 2022
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Incomplete combustion of fossil fuel produces carbonaceous particles called soot. These particles can affect cloud formation by acting as centres for droplet or ice formation. The atmospheric residence time of soot particles is of the order of days to weeks, which can result in them becoming coated by various trace species in the atmosphere such as acids. In this study, we quantify the cirrus cloud-forming ability of soot particles coated with the atmospherically ubiquitous sulfuric acid.
Kunfeng Gao, Franz Friebel, Chong-Wen Zhou, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4985–5016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4985-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4985-2022, 2022
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Soot particles impact cloud formation and radiative properties in the upper atmosphere where aircraft emit carbonaceous particles. We use cloud chambers to mimic the upper atmosphere temperature and humidity to test the influence of the morphology of the soot particles on ice cloud formation. For particles larger than 200 nm, the compacted (densified) samples have a higher affinity for ice crystal formation in the cirrus regime than the fluffy (un-compacted) soot particles of the same sample.
Joel Kuula, Hilkka Timonen, Jarkko V. Niemi, Hanna E. Manninen, Topi Rönkkö, Tareq Hussein, Pak Lun Fung, Sasu Tarkoma, Mikko Laakso, Erkka Saukko, Aino Ovaska, Markku Kulmala, Ari Karppinen, Lasse Johansson, and Tuukka Petäjä
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4801–4808, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4801-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4801-2022, 2022
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Modern and up-to-date policies and air quality management strategies are instrumental in tackling global air pollution. As the European Union is preparing to revise Ambient Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC, this paper initiates discussion on selected features of the directive that we believe would benefit from a reassessment. The scientific community has the most recent and deepest understanding of air pollution; thus, its contribution is essential.
Yu Wang, Aristeidis Voliotis, Dawei Hu, Yunqi Shao, Mao Du, Ying Chen, Judith Kleinheins, Claudia Marcolli, M. Rami Alfarra, and Gordon McFiggans
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4149–4166, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4149-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4149-2022, 2022
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Aerosol water uptake plays a key role in atmospheric physicochemical processes. We designed chamber experiments on aerosol water uptake of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from mixed biogenic and anthropogenic precursors with inorganic seed. Our results highlight this chemical composition influences the reconciliation of the sub- and super-saturated water uptake, providing laboratory evidence for understanding the chemical controls of water uptake of the multi-component aerosol.
Shuang Han, Juan Hong, Qingwei Luo, Hanbing Xu, Haobo Tan, Qiaoqiao Wang, Jiangchuan Tao, Yaqing Zhou, Long Peng, Yao He, Jingnan Shi, Nan Ma, Yafang Cheng, and Hang Su
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3985–4004, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3985-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3985-2022, 2022
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We present the hygroscopicity of 23 organic species with different physicochemical properties using a hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA) and compare the results with previous studies. Based on the hygroscopicity parameter κ, the influence of different physicochemical properties that potentially drive hygroscopicity, such as the functionality, water solubility, molar volume, and O : C ratio of organics, are examined separately.
Kimmo Korhonen, Thomas Bjerring Kristensen, John Falk, Vilhelm B. Malmborg, Axel Eriksson, Louise Gren, Maja Novakovic, Sam Shamun, Panu Karjalainen, Lassi Markkula, Joakim Pagels, Birgitta Svenningsson, Martin Tunér, Mika Komppula, Ari Laaksonen, and Annele Virtanen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 1615–1631, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1615-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1615-2022, 2022
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We investigated the ice-nucleating abilities of particulate emissions from a modern diesel engine using the portable ice-nuclei counter SPIN, a continuous-flow diffusion chamber instrument. Three different fuels were studied without blending, including fossil diesel and two renewable fuels, testing different emission aftertreatment systems and photochemical aging. We found that the diesel emissions were inefficient ice nuclei, and aging had no or little effect on their ice-nucleating abilities.
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Short summary
Tar balls (TBs) are a specific particle type which is abundant in the global troposphere, in particular in biomass smoke plumes. These particles belong to the family of atmospheric brown carbon (BrC), which can absorb light in the visible range of the solar spectrum. The refractive index of TBs falls much closer to that of soot than of other light-absorbing species such as humic-like substances. These findings may have substantial influence on the understanding of global radiative energy fluxes.
Tar balls (TBs) are a specific particle type which is abundant in the global troposphere, in...
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