1Environment Research Institute, School of Environmental Science and
Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan, 250100, China
2Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and
Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute
of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
3Institute for Climate and Global Change Research, School of
Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
4Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Atmospheric
Chemistry Department (ACD), Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
1Environment Research Institute, School of Environmental Science and
Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan, 250100, China
2Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and
Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute
of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
3Institute for Climate and Global Change Research, School of
Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
4Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Atmospheric
Chemistry Department (ACD), Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
Correspondence: Jianmin Chen (jmchen@fudan.edu.cn, jmchen@sdu.edu.cn) and Hartmut Herrmann (herrmann@tropos.de)
Received: 08 Jan 2017 – Discussion started: 16 Feb 2017 – Revised: 11 Jun 2017 – Accepted: 25 Jul 2017 – Published: 23 Aug 2017
Abstract. The chemical composition of 39 cloud samples and droplet size distributions in 24 cloud events were investigated at the summit of Mt. Tai from July to October 2014. Inorganic ions, organic acids, metals, HCHO, H2O2, sulfur(IV), organic carbon, and elemental carbon as well as pH and electrical conductivity were analyzed. The acidity of the cloud water significantly decreased from a reported value of pH 3.86 during 2007–2008 (Guo et al., 2012) to pH 5.87 in the present study. The concentrations of nitrate and ammonium were both increased since 2007–2008, but the overcompensation of ammonium led to an increase in the mean pH value. The microphysical properties showed that cloud droplets were smaller than 26.0 µm and most were in the range of 6.0–9.0 µm at Mt. Tai. The maximum droplet number concentration (Nd) was associated with a droplet size of 7.0 µm. High liquid water content (LWC) values could facilitate the formation of larger cloud droplets and broadened the droplet size distribution. Cloud droplets exhibited a strong interaction with atmospheric aerosols. Higher PM2. 5 levels resulted in higher concentrations of water-soluble ions and smaller sizes with increased numbers of cloud droplets. The lower pH values were likely to occur at higher PM2. 5 concentrations. Clouds were an important sink for soluble materials in the atmosphere. The dilution effect of cloud water should be considered when estimating concentrations of soluble components in the cloud phase.
Cloud events at Mt. Tai were investigated for the chemical composition and size distribution of cloud droplets. An obvious rise in pH was found for elevated NH+4 during the last decade. Higher PM2.5 levels resulted in higher concentrations of water-soluble ions, smaller sizes and higher numbers of cloud droplets. The mechanism of cloud-droplet formation and the mass transfer between aerosol–gas–cloud phases were summarized to enrich the knowledge of cloud chemical and microphysical properties.
Cloud events at Mt. Tai were investigated for the chemical composition and size distribution of...
