Articles | Volume 18, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-16419-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-16419-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
20 Nov 2018
Research article |
| 20 Nov 2018
| 20 Nov 2018
The size-resolved cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and its prediction based on aerosol hygroscopicity and composition in the Pearl Delta River (PRD) region during wintertime 2014
Mingfu Cai
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory
for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, and Institute of Earth
Climate and Environment System, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,
China
Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology/Guangdong Provincial
Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, CMA, Guangzhou,
China
Haobo Tan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology/Guangdong Provincial
Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, CMA, Guangzhou,
China
Chak K. Chan
School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong,
Hong Kong SAR, China
Yiming Qin
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA, USA
Hanbing Xu
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory
for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, and Institute of Earth
Climate and Environment System, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,
China
Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology/Guangdong Provincial
Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, CMA, Guangzhou,
China
Misha I. Schurman
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
Li Liu
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory
for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, and Institute of Earth
Climate and Environment System, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,
China
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory
for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, and Institute of Earth
Climate and Environment System, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,
China
Viewed
Total article views: 3,982 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 04 Jun 2018)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,594 | 1,303 | 85 | 3,982 | 229 | 100 | 142 |
- HTML: 2,594
- PDF: 1,303
- XML: 85
- Total: 3,982
- Supplement: 229
- BibTeX: 100
- EndNote: 142
Total article views: 3,249 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 20 Nov 2018)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,170 | 1,004 | 75 | 3,249 | 229 | 88 | 128 |
- HTML: 2,170
- PDF: 1,004
- XML: 75
- Total: 3,249
- Supplement: 229
- BibTeX: 88
- EndNote: 128
Total article views: 733 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 04 Jun 2018)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 424 | 299 | 10 | 733 | 12 | 14 |
- HTML: 424
- PDF: 299
- XML: 10
- Total: 733
- BibTeX: 12
- EndNote: 14
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 3,982 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,961 with geography defined
and 21 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 3,249 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,217 with geography defined
and 32 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 733 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 733 with geography defined
and 0 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
36 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Measurement report: Distinct size dependence and diurnal variation in organic aerosol hygroscopicity, volatility, and cloud condensation nuclei activity at a rural site in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, China M. Cai et al. 10.5194/acp-22-8117-2022
- Quantifying particle-to-particle heterogeneity in aerosol hygroscopicity L. Yuan & C. Zhao 10.5194/acp-23-3195-2023
- Secondary aerosol formation alters CCN activity in the North China Plain J. Tao et al. 10.5194/acp-21-7409-2021
- The impact of aerosol size-dependent hygroscopicity and mixing state on the cloud condensation nuclei potential over the north-east Atlantic W. Xu et al. 10.5194/acp-21-8655-2021
- Vertical profiles of cloud condensation nuclei number concentration and its empirical estimate from aerosol optical properties over the North China Plain R. Zhang et al. 10.5194/acp-22-14879-2022
- Effects of continental emissions on cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity in the northern South China Sea during summertime 2018 M. Cai et al. 10.5194/acp-20-9153-2020
- Atmospheric micro- and nano- particles: characteristics, sources, and environmental behavior L. Shao et al. 10.1360/CSB-2025-0728
- Particle Number Size Distribution of Wintertime Alpine Aerosols and Their Activation as Cloud Condensation Nuclei in the Guanzhong Plain, Northwest China Y. Chen et al. 10.1029/2022JD037877
- Evidence of Surface-Tension Lowering of Atmospheric Aerosols by Organics from Field Observations in an Urban Atmosphere: Relation to Particle Size and Chemical Composition T. Fan et al. 10.1021/acs.est.4c03141
- In-situ observations reveal weak hygroscopicity in the Southern Tibetan Plateau: implications for aerosol activation and indirect effects Y. Wang et al. 10.1038/s41612-024-00629-x
- Contribution of New Particle Formation to Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity and its Controlling Factors in a Mountain Region of Inland China M. Cai et al. 10.1029/2020JD034302
- Aerosol mixing state, new particle formation, and cloud droplet number concentration in an urban environment S. Kasparoglu et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175307
- Aerosol Hygroscopicity and Surface-Active Coverage for the Droplet Growth of Aerosol Mixtures N. Ferdousi-Rokib et al. 10.1021/acsestair.4c00303
- CCN estimations at a high-altitude remote site: role of organic aerosol variability and hygroscopicity F. Rejano et al. 10.5194/acp-24-13865-2024
- Tropospheric aerosol hygroscopicity in China C. Peng et al. 10.5194/acp-20-13877-2020
- Hygroscopic growth and CCN activity of secondary organic aerosol produced from dark ozonolysis of γ-terpinene H. Bouzidi et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153010
- Impact of urban aerosols on the cloud condensation activity using a clustering model F. Rejano et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159657
- Measurement report: Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity in the South China Sea from shipborne observations during the summer and winter of 2021 – seasonal variation and anthropogenic influence H. Ou et al. 10.5194/acp-25-2495-2025
- Size distribution and formation processes of aerosol water-soluble organic carbon during winter and summer in urban Beijing X. Ni et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117983
- Seasonal variation of particle hygroscopicity and its impact on cloud-condensation nucleus activation in the Beijing urban area S. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119728
- Ice nucleation by aerosols from anthropogenic pollution B. Zhao et al. 10.1038/s41561-019-0389-4
- Atmospheric Particle Hygroscopicity and the Influence by Oxidation State of Organic Aerosols in Urban Beijing S. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.jes.2021.11.019
- The important roles of surface tension and growth rate in the contribution of new particle formation (NPF) to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) number concentration: evidence from field measurements in southern China M. Cai et al. 10.5194/acp-21-8575-2021
- External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states D. Vu et al. 10.5194/amt-12-4277-2019
- Distribution Characteristics of Aerosol Size and CCN during the Summer on Mt. Tian and Their Influencing Factors A. Liu et al. 10.3390/atmos11090912
- Prediction of CCN spectra parameters in the North China Plain using a random forest model M. Liang et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119323
- Cloud condensation nuclei characteristics at the Southern Great Plains site: role of particle size distribution and aerosol hygroscopicity P. Patel & J. Jiang 10.1088/2515-7620/ac0e0b
- Cruise observation of the marine atmosphere and ship emissions in South China Sea: Aerosol composition, sources, and the aging process Q. Sun et al. 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120539
- Mathematical derivation and physical interpretation of particle size-resolved activation ratio based on particle hygroscopicity distribution: Application on global characterization of CCN activity X. Jiang et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.118137
- Calibration and evaluation of a broad supersaturation scanning (BS2) cloud condensation nuclei counter for rapid measurement of particle hygroscopicity and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity N. Kim et al. 10.5194/amt-14-6991-2021
- Determining the impact of new particle formation events on cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations A. Casans et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179094
- Measurement report: Hygroscopic growth of ambient fine particles measured at five sites in China L. Chen et al. 10.5194/acp-22-6773-2022
- Mass and number concentration distribution of marine aerosol in the Western Pacific and the influence of continental transport Y. Ma et al. 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118827
- The density of ambient black carbon retrieved by a new method: implications for cloud condensation nuclei prediction J. Ren et al. 10.5194/acp-23-4327-2023
- Impacts of Aerosol Chemical Composition on Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) Activity during Wintertime in Beijing, China Q. Liu et al. 10.3390/rs15174119
- Mixing state and particle hygroscopicity of organic-dominated aerosols over the Pearl River Delta region in China J. Hong et al. 10.5194/acp-18-14079-2018
35 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Measurement report: Distinct size dependence and diurnal variation in organic aerosol hygroscopicity, volatility, and cloud condensation nuclei activity at a rural site in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, China M. Cai et al. 10.5194/acp-22-8117-2022
- Quantifying particle-to-particle heterogeneity in aerosol hygroscopicity L. Yuan & C. Zhao 10.5194/acp-23-3195-2023
- Secondary aerosol formation alters CCN activity in the North China Plain J. Tao et al. 10.5194/acp-21-7409-2021
- The impact of aerosol size-dependent hygroscopicity and mixing state on the cloud condensation nuclei potential over the north-east Atlantic W. Xu et al. 10.5194/acp-21-8655-2021
- Vertical profiles of cloud condensation nuclei number concentration and its empirical estimate from aerosol optical properties over the North China Plain R. Zhang et al. 10.5194/acp-22-14879-2022
- Effects of continental emissions on cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity in the northern South China Sea during summertime 2018 M. Cai et al. 10.5194/acp-20-9153-2020
- Atmospheric micro- and nano- particles: characteristics, sources, and environmental behavior L. Shao et al. 10.1360/CSB-2025-0728
- Particle Number Size Distribution of Wintertime Alpine Aerosols and Their Activation as Cloud Condensation Nuclei in the Guanzhong Plain, Northwest China Y. Chen et al. 10.1029/2022JD037877
- Evidence of Surface-Tension Lowering of Atmospheric Aerosols by Organics from Field Observations in an Urban Atmosphere: Relation to Particle Size and Chemical Composition T. Fan et al. 10.1021/acs.est.4c03141
- In-situ observations reveal weak hygroscopicity in the Southern Tibetan Plateau: implications for aerosol activation and indirect effects Y. Wang et al. 10.1038/s41612-024-00629-x
- Contribution of New Particle Formation to Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity and its Controlling Factors in a Mountain Region of Inland China M. Cai et al. 10.1029/2020JD034302
- Aerosol mixing state, new particle formation, and cloud droplet number concentration in an urban environment S. Kasparoglu et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175307
- Aerosol Hygroscopicity and Surface-Active Coverage for the Droplet Growth of Aerosol Mixtures N. Ferdousi-Rokib et al. 10.1021/acsestair.4c00303
- CCN estimations at a high-altitude remote site: role of organic aerosol variability and hygroscopicity F. Rejano et al. 10.5194/acp-24-13865-2024
- Tropospheric aerosol hygroscopicity in China C. Peng et al. 10.5194/acp-20-13877-2020
- Hygroscopic growth and CCN activity of secondary organic aerosol produced from dark ozonolysis of γ-terpinene H. Bouzidi et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153010
- Impact of urban aerosols on the cloud condensation activity using a clustering model F. Rejano et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159657
- Measurement report: Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity in the South China Sea from shipborne observations during the summer and winter of 2021 – seasonal variation and anthropogenic influence H. Ou et al. 10.5194/acp-25-2495-2025
- Size distribution and formation processes of aerosol water-soluble organic carbon during winter and summer in urban Beijing X. Ni et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117983
- Seasonal variation of particle hygroscopicity and its impact on cloud-condensation nucleus activation in the Beijing urban area S. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119728
- Ice nucleation by aerosols from anthropogenic pollution B. Zhao et al. 10.1038/s41561-019-0389-4
- Atmospheric Particle Hygroscopicity and the Influence by Oxidation State of Organic Aerosols in Urban Beijing S. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.jes.2021.11.019
- The important roles of surface tension and growth rate in the contribution of new particle formation (NPF) to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) number concentration: evidence from field measurements in southern China M. Cai et al. 10.5194/acp-21-8575-2021
- External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states D. Vu et al. 10.5194/amt-12-4277-2019
- Distribution Characteristics of Aerosol Size and CCN during the Summer on Mt. Tian and Their Influencing Factors A. Liu et al. 10.3390/atmos11090912
- Prediction of CCN spectra parameters in the North China Plain using a random forest model M. Liang et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119323
- Cloud condensation nuclei characteristics at the Southern Great Plains site: role of particle size distribution and aerosol hygroscopicity P. Patel & J. Jiang 10.1088/2515-7620/ac0e0b
- Cruise observation of the marine atmosphere and ship emissions in South China Sea: Aerosol composition, sources, and the aging process Q. Sun et al. 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120539
- Mathematical derivation and physical interpretation of particle size-resolved activation ratio based on particle hygroscopicity distribution: Application on global characterization of CCN activity X. Jiang et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.118137
- Calibration and evaluation of a broad supersaturation scanning (BS2) cloud condensation nuclei counter for rapid measurement of particle hygroscopicity and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity N. Kim et al. 10.5194/amt-14-6991-2021
- Determining the impact of new particle formation events on cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations A. Casans et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179094
- Measurement report: Hygroscopic growth of ambient fine particles measured at five sites in China L. Chen et al. 10.5194/acp-22-6773-2022
- Mass and number concentration distribution of marine aerosol in the Western Pacific and the influence of continental transport Y. Ma et al. 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118827
- The density of ambient black carbon retrieved by a new method: implications for cloud condensation nuclei prediction J. Ren et al. 10.5194/acp-23-4327-2023
- Impacts of Aerosol Chemical Composition on Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) Activity during Wintertime in Beijing, China Q. Liu et al. 10.3390/rs15174119
Latest update: 31 Oct 2025
Short summary
Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) play a critical role in cloud formation which affects solar radiation and climate. We employed advanced instruments to measure aerosol hygroscopicity and chemical composition and used them to predict CCN activity. Our results found that the CCN activity was largely dependent on the hygroscopicity parameter and the surface tension of the particles. Our study highlights the need for evaluating the effects of organics in order to accurately predict CCN activity.
Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) play a critical role in cloud formation which affects solar...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint