Articles | Volume 22, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7087-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7087-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
02 Jun 2022
Research article |
| 02 Jun 2022
| 02 Jun 2022
In situ observation of riming in mixed-phase clouds using the PHIPS probe
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Martin Schnaiter
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
schnaiTEC GmbH, Bruchsal, Germany
Thomas Leisner
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Emma Järvinen
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
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McKenna Stanford, Alice Keinert, Ann Fridlind, Alexei Kiselev, Daniel Knopf, Andrew Ackerman, Thomas Leisner, and Paul Lawson
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4713, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4713, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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Clouds containing a mixture of liquid and ice are poorly simulated because ice crystals multiply via poorly understood mechanisms. This study uses laboratory experiments to represent ice multiplication from freezing drops and evaluates that representation in high-resolution simulations against aircraft observations. Ice fragment production increases ice crystal numbers but is modulated by the evolution of raindrops prior to freezing, with direct implications for weather and climate models.
Feng Jiang, Jun Zhang, David M. Bell, Kun Li, Nadine Borduas-Dedekind, Andre S. H. Prevot, Hongbiao Cui, Harald Saathoff, and Thomas Leisner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 11733–11746, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-11733-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-11733-2026, 2026
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We studied chemical compositions and chromophores of brown carbon aerosol from combustion emission before and after photooxidation using an oxidative flow reactor. The chromophore and chemical composition of brown carbon were determined by excitation-emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. This work helps to get a better understanding of evolution process of the chromophores from primary combustion emissions during the real atmospheric transportation.
Linyu Gao, Stella E. I. Manavi, Claudia Mohr, Junwei Song, Cheng Wu, Thomas Leisner, Spyros N. Pandis, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 8875–8892, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8875-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8875-2026, 2026
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We investigate how temperature (213–313K) affects secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles derived from isoprene and α-pinene mixtures. Isoprene's suppression on α-pinene dimer formation varied with temperatures. Particles formed at higher temperatures are more oxidized yet more volatile than those formed at lower temperatures and then warmed. This work highlights the need to consider both temperature and biogenic vapor interaction to accurately describe SOA formation, aging, and global burden.
Aymeric Dziduch, Antoine Baudoux, Guillaume Mioche, Antoine Canzi, Benjamin Doiteau, Manuel Moser, Emma Järvinen, Étienne Vignon, Jean-Christophe Raut, Régis Dupuy, Christophe Gourbeyre, Jean-Luc Baray, Marie Monier, Frédéric Szczap, Guillaume Penide, Julien Delanoë, Odran Sourdeval, Alfons Schwarzenboeck, Stephan Mertes, Franz Martin Schnaiter, Christiane Voigt, Mario Mech, Susanne Crewell, Andreas Herber, Christof Lüpkes, André Ehrlich, Manfred Wendisch, and Olivier Jourdan
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3265, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3265, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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This study examines the microphysical properties and ice crystal habits of low-level Arctic mixed-phase clouds around Svalbard. Using airborne in situ observations from four campaigns, we show that cloud microphysical structure and ice crystal habits are influenced by weather conditions and surface type. These results provide quantitative observations to better understand low-level Arctic clouds, their ice formation processes, and their influence on the Arctic atmosphere and climate system.
Yanxia Li, Hengheng Zhang, Xuefeng Shi, Yaowei Li, Sophie Abou-Rizk, Jessica B. Smith, Zhaojin An, Adrian Wenzel, Junwei Song, Thomas Leisner, Frank Keutsch, Jia Chen, and Harald Saathoff
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2195, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2195, 2026
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Urban ultrafine particles (<100 nm) sources and growth mechanisms remain poorly constrained. Measurements in a Munich street canyon reveal that UFP number concentrations peak at night due to traffic and cooking emissions trapped under a shallow boundary layer. Particle growth is instead driven by condensation of organic vapours with strong seasonal shifts: biogenic and barbeque charcoal biomass-burning compounds dominate in summer, while combustion-related organics control winter growth.
Yanxia Li, Hengheng Zhang, Xuefeng Shi, Yaowei Li, Sophie Abou-Rizk, Jessica B. Smith, Zhaojin An, Adrian Wenzel, Junwei Song, Thomas Leisner, Frank Keutsch, Jia Chen, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 5813–5837, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5813-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5813-2026, 2026
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We analyzed Munich air samples across seasons to identify pollution sources. Traffic contributes less to particles than expected, while biomass burning dominates year-round. Summer barbecuing and winter heating release significant pollution. Monoterpene emissions from plants produce particles at night. Effective air quality improvement requires year-round strategies targeting biomass burning, not just vehicles. Understanding each city's pollution patterns is essential for public health.
Tomi Raatikainen, Silvia Calderón, Emma Järvinen, Marje Prank, and Sami Romakkaniemi
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 5019–5038, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5019-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5019-2026, 2026
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We used high-resolution simulations to examine if secondary ice production could explain the high ice particle concentrations observed during an airborne Arctic cloud study. For these clouds, the dominating secondary ice production process was rime splintering. It can produce high ice concentrations, but some model adjustments may be needed. Clouds in our simulations reached realistic steady states where rime splintering became a self-sustaining process.
Emma Järvinen and Franz Martin Schnaiter
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 2465–2486, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-2465-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-2465-2026, 2026
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Ice clouds in the Arctic and mid-latitudes were investigated using in situ aircraft observations combining single-particle imaging with simultaneous light-scattering measurements. The joint characterisation of ice particle size, shape, and optical response shows that these clouds reflect substantially more solar radiation than is typically represented in models. The observations provide an empirical basis for improving the physical realism of ice cloud optical properties in climate models.
Hengheng Zhang, Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour, Heike Vogel, Frank Wagner, Thomas Leisner, Jochen Förstner, and Harald Saathoff
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5980, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5980, 2026
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We studied several major dust storms that traveled from the Sahara to Europe using ground-based light measurements, sunlight sensors, particle counters, and a modern weather and dust model. We reveal when the dust arrived, how it moved and mixed in the air, and why each event behaved differently. Our results help improve forecasts of dust episodes that influence air quality, visibility, and solar energy across Europe.
Adrian Hamel, Massimo del Guasta, Carl Schmitt, Christophe Genthon, Emma Järvinen, and Martin Schnaiter
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 1211–1228, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1211-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1211-2026, 2026
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Size and shape of small ice particles in the dry and cold atmosphere of inland Antarctica were measured. We observed that particles originating near the surface are smaller than those falling from higher altitudes. Inland Antarctic particles of frozen fog occur at lower concentrations and are less complex than those observed in an urban, polluted environment. These findings can help to improve Antarctic climate models and to accurately interpret satellite observations of the polar atmosphere.
Adrian Hamel, Martin Schnaiter, Masanori Saito, Robert Wagner, and Emma Järvinen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 1277–1300, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1277-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1277-2026, 2026
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The depolarisation ratio of ice clouds is commonly measured by satellites and ground-based instruments to learn about ice particle shapes. In our cloud chamber experiments, we found that for small ice crystals, the depolarisation ratio is more strongly influenced by particle size than by nano-scale structure. The measured trends could be reproduced with numerical simulations. This result helps improve the interpretation of remote sensing data and the accuracy of light scattering models.
Alexander Böhmländer, Larissa Lacher, Kristina Höhler, David Brus, Konstantinos-Matthaios Doulgeris, Jessica Girdwood, Thomas Leisner, and Ottmar Möhler
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 6157–6164, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-6157-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-6157-2025, 2025
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Clouds play a key role in weather and climate. Pure liquid water droplets are liquid until about −35 °C without the presence of a small subset of aerosols, ice-nucleating particles (INPs). These INPs lead to primary ice formation and therefore impact the phase of clouds. The dataset described herein provides INP concentration measurements at two altitudes. Connecting this data to synoptic conditions and ambient data might provide a better understanding of INPs in Finnish Lapland.
Marco Zanatta, Pia Bogert, Patrick Ginot, Yiwei Gong, Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour, Yaqiong Hu, Feng Jiang, Paolo Laj, Yanxia Li, Claudia Linke, Ottmar Möhler, Harald Saathoff, Martin Schnaiter, Nsikanabasi Silas Umo, Franziska Vogel, and Robert Wagner
Aerosol Research, 3, 477–502, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-477-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-477-2025, 2025
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Back carbon is an atmospheric pollutant from combustion and contributes to the Arctic warming. However, its properties change as it travels through the atmosphere, affecting its impact. We recreated Arctic transport conditions in a laboratory to study how black carbon evolves over time. Our findings show that temperature and altitude strongly influence its transformation, providing key insights for improving climate models and understanding Arctic pollution.
Alexander Böhmländer, Larissa Lacher, David Brus, Konstantinos-Matthaios Doulgeris, Zoé Brasseur, Matthew Boyer, Joel Kuula, Thomas Leisner, and Ottmar Möhler
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 3959–3971, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3959-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3959-2025, 2025
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Clouds and aerosol are important for weather and climate. Typically, pure water cloud droplets stay liquid until around −35 °C, unless they come into contact with ice-nucleating particles (INPs). INPs are a rare subset of aerosol particles. Using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), it is possible to collect aerosol particles and analyse their ice-nucleating ability. This study describes the test and validation of a sampling set-up that can be used to collect aerosol particles onto a filter.
Shawn W. Wagner, Martin Schnaiter, Guanglang Xu, Franziska Rogge, and Emma Järvinen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 8785–8804, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8785-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8785-2025, 2025
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Understanding the interaction between cirrus clouds and solar radiation is critical for modeling the Earth's climate. A common crystal type found in cirrus clouds is the bullet rosette. Here, atmospheric bullet rosettes measured from jet aircraft are analyzed for their morphological and radiative properties. Atmospheric bullet rosettes are found to be more morphologically complex than previously assumed. This complexity has a significant impact on their radiative properties.
Feng Jiang, Harald Saathoff, Uzoamaka Ezenobi, Junwei Song, Hengheng Zhang, Linyu Gao, and Thomas Leisner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1917–1930, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1917-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1917-2025, 2025
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The chemical composition of brown carbon in the particle and gas phase was determined by mass spectrometry. BrC in the gas phase was mainly controlled by secondary formation and particle-to-gas partitioning. BrC in the particle phase was mainly from secondary formation. This work helps to get a better understanding of diurnal variations and the sources of brown carbon aerosol at a rural location in central Europe.
Junwei Song, Georgios I. Gkatzelis, Ralf Tillmann, Nicolas Brüggemann, Thomas Leisner, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 13199–13217, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13199-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-13199-2024, 2024
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Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and organic aerosol (OA) particles were measured online in a stressed spruce-dominated forest. OA was mainly attributed to the monoterpene oxidation products. The mixing ratios of BVOCs were higher than the values previously measured in other temperate forests. The results demonstrate that BVOCs are influenced not only by meteorology and biogenic emissions but also by local anthropogenic emissions and subsequent chemical transformation processes.
Hengheng Zhang, Wei Huang, Xiaoli Shen, Ramakrishna Ramisetty, Junwei Song, Olga Kiseleva, Christopher Claus Holst, Basit Khan, Thomas Leisner, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10617–10637, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10617-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10617-2024, 2024
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Our study unravels how stagnant winter conditions elevate aerosol levels in Stuttgart. Cloud cover at night plays a pivotal role, impacting morning air quality. Validating a key model, our findings aid accurate air quality predictions, crucial for effective pollution mitigation in urban areas.
Junwei Song, Harald Saathoff, Feng Jiang, Linyu Gao, Hengheng Zhang, and Thomas Leisner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 6699–6717, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6699-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6699-2024, 2024
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This study presents concurrent online measurements of organic gas and particles (VOCs and OA) at a forested site in summer. Both VOCs and OA were largely contributed by oxygenated organic compounds. Semi-volatile oxygenated OA and organic nitrate formed from monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes contributed significantly to nighttime particle growth. The results help us to understand the causes of nighttime particle growth regularly observed in summer in central European rural forested environments.
Hengheng Zhang, Christian Rolf, Ralf Tillmann, Christian Wesolek, Frank Gunther Wienhold, Thomas Leisner, and Harald Saathoff
Aerosol Research, 2, 135–151, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-135-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-135-2024, 2024
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Our study employs advanced tools, including scanning lidar, balloons, and UAVs, to explore aerosol particles in the atmosphere. The scanning lidar offers distinctive near-ground-level insights, enriching our comprehension of aerosol distribution from ground level to the free troposphere. This research provides valuable data for comparing remote sensing and in situ aerosol measurements, advancing our understanding of aerosol impacts on radiative transfer, clouds, and air quality.
Johanna S. Seidel, Alexei A. Kiselev, Alice Keinert, Frank Stratmann, Thomas Leisner, and Susan Hartmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 5247–5263, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5247-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5247-2024, 2024
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Clouds often contain several thousand times more ice crystals than aerosol particles catalyzing ice formation. This phenomenon, commonly known as ice multiplication, is often explained by secondary ice formation due to the collisions between falling ice particles and droplets. In this study, we mimic this riming process. Contrary to earlier experiments, we found no efficient ice multiplication, which fundamentally questions the importance of the rime-splintering mechanism.
Feng Jiang, Kyla Siemens, Claudia Linke, Yanxia Li, Yiwei Gong, Thomas Leisner, Alexander Laskin, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2639–2649, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2639-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2639-2024, 2024
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We investigated the optical properties, chemical composition, and formation mechanisms of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and brown carbon (BrC) from the oxidation of indole with and without NO2 in the Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere (AIDA) simulation chamber. This work is one of the very few to link the optical properties and chemical composition of indole SOA with and without NO2 by simulation chamber experiments.
Yiwei Gong, Feng Jiang, Yanxia Li, Thomas Leisner, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 167–184, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-167-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-167-2024, 2024
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This study investigates the role of the important atmospheric reactive intermediates in the formation of dimers and aerosol in monoterpene ozonolysis at different temperatures. Through conducting a series of chamber experiments and utilizing chemical kinetic and aerosol dynamic models, the SOA formation processes are better described, especially for colder regions. The results can be used to improve the chemical mechanism modeling of monoterpenes and SOA parameterization in transport models.
Mohit Singh, Stephanie Helen Jones, Alexei Kiselev, Denis Duft, and Thomas Leisner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 5205–5215, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5205-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5205-2023, 2023
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We introduce a novel method for simultaneous measurement of the viscosity and surface tension of metastable liquids. Our approach is based on the phase analysis of excited shape oscillations in levitated droplets. It is applicable to a wide range of atmospheric conditions and can monitor changes in real time. The technique holds great promise for investigating the effect of atmospheric processing on the viscosity and surface tension of solution droplets in equilibrium with water vapour.
Marco Zanatta, Stephan Mertes, Olivier Jourdan, Regis Dupuy, Emma Järvinen, Martin Schnaiter, Oliver Eppers, Johannes Schneider, Zsófia Jurányi, and Andreas Herber
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7955–7973, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7955-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7955-2023, 2023
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Black carbon (BC) particles influence the Arctic radiative balance. Vertical measurements of black carbon were conducted during the ACLOUD campaign in the European Arctic to study the interaction of BC with clouds. This study shows that clouds influence the vertical variability of BC properties across the inversion layer and that multiple activation and transformation mechanisms of BC may occur in the presence of low-level, persistent, mixed-phase clouds.
Emma Järvinen, Franziska Nehlert, Guanglang Xu, Fritz Waitz, Guillaume Mioche, Regis Dupuy, Olivier Jourdan, and Martin Schnaiter
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7611–7633, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7611-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7611-2023, 2023
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The Arctic is warming faster than other regions. Arctic low-level mixed-phase clouds, where ice crystals and liquid droplets co-exist, are thought to have an important role in Arctic warming. Here we show airborne measurements of vertical distribution of liquid and ice particles and their relative abundance. Ice particles are found in relative warm clouds, which can be explained by multiplication of existing ice crystals. However, the role of ice particles in redistributing sun light is minimal.
Robert Wagner, Alexander D. James, Victoria L. Frankland, Ottmar Möhler, Benjamin J. Murray, John M. C. Plane, Harald Saathoff, Ralf Weigel, and Martin Schnaiter
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6789–6811, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6789-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6789-2023, 2023
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Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play an important role in the depletion of stratospheric ozone. They can consist of different chemical species, including crystalline nitric acid hydrates. We found that mineral dust or meteoric ablation material can efficiently catalyse the formation of a specific phase of nitric acid dihydrate crystals. We determined predominant particle shapes and infrared optical properties of these crystals, which are important inputs for remote sensing detection of PSCs.
Franz Martin Schnaiter, Claudia Linke, Eija Asmi, Henri Servomaa, Antti-Pekka Hyvärinen, Sho Ohata, Yutaka Kondo, and Emma Järvinen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2753–2769, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2753-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2753-2023, 2023
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Light-absorbing particles from combustion processes are important contributors to climate warming. Their highly variable spectral light absorption properties need to be monitored in the field. Commonly used methods show measurement artefacts that are difficult to correct. We introduce a new instrument that is based on the photoacoustic effect. Long-term operation in the Finnish Arctic demonstrates the applicability of the new instrument for unattended light absorption monitoring.
Feng Jiang, Junwei Song, Jonas Bauer, Linyu Gao, Magdalena Vallon, Reiner Gebhardt, Thomas Leisner, Stefan Norra, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 14971–14986, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-14971-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-14971-2022, 2022
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We studied brown carbon aerosol during typical summer and winter periods in downtown Karlsruhe in southwestern Germany. The chromophore and chemical composition of brown carbon was determined by excitation–emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The chromophore types and sources were substantially different in winter and summer. Humic-like chromophores of different degrees of oxidation dominated and were associated with molecules of different molecular weight and nitrogen content.
Linyu Gao, Junwei Song, Claudia Mohr, Wei Huang, Magdalena Vallon, Feng Jiang, Thomas Leisner, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 6001–6020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6001-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6001-2022, 2022
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We study secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from β-caryophyllene (BCP) ozonolysis with and without nitrogen oxides over 213–313 K in the simulation chamber. The yields and the rate constants were determined at 243–313 K. Chemical compositions varied at different temperatures, indicating a strong impact on the BCP ozonolysis pathways. This work helps to better understand the SOA from BCP ozonolysis for conditions representative of the real atmosphere from the boundary layer to the upper troposphere.
Magdalena Vallon, Linyu Gao, Feng Jiang, Bianca Krumm, Jens Nadolny, Junwei Song, Thomas Leisner, and Harald Saathoff
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1795–1810, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1795-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1795-2022, 2022
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A LED-based light source has been constructed for the AIDA simulation chamber at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. It allows aerosol formation and ageing studies under atmospherically relevant illumination intensities and spectral characteristics at temperatures from –90 °C to 30 °C with the possibility of changing the photon flux and irradiation spectrum at any point. The first results of photolysis experiments with 2,3-pentanedione, iron oxalate and a brown carbon component are shown.
Ulrich Platt, Thomas Wagner, Jonas Kuhn, and Thomas Leisner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6867–6883, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6867-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6867-2021, 2021
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Absorption spectroscopy of scattered sunlight is extremely useful for the analysis of atmospheric trace gas distributions. A central parameter for the achievable sensitivity of spectroscopic instruments is the light throughput, which can be enhanced in a number of ways. We present new ideas and considerations of how instruments could be optimized. Particular emphasis is on arrays of massively parallel instruments. Such arrays can reduce the size and weight of instruments by orders of magnitude.
Julia Schneider, Kristina Höhler, Robert Wagner, Harald Saathoff, Martin Schnaiter, Tobias Schorr, Isabelle Steinke, Stefan Benz, Manuel Baumgartner, Christian Rolf, Martina Krämer, Thomas Leisner, and Ottmar Möhler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 14403–14425, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14403-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-14403-2021, 2021
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Homogeneous freezing is a relevant mechanism for the formation of cirrus clouds in the upper troposphere. Based on an extensive set of homogeneous freezing experiments at the AIDA chamber with aqueous sulfuric acid aerosol, we provide a new fit line for homogeneous freezing onset conditions of sulfuric acid aerosol focusing on cirrus temperatures. In the atmosphere, homogeneous freezing thresholds have important implications on the cirrus cloud occurrence and related cloud radiative effects.
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Short summary
Riming, i.e., the accretion of small droplets on the surface of ice particles via collision, is one of the major uncertainties in model prediction of mixed-phase clouds. We discuss the occurrence (up to 50% of particles) and aging of rimed ice particles and show correlations of the occurrence and the degree of riming with ambient meteorological parameters using data gathered by the Particle Habit Imaging and Polar Scattering (PHIPS) probe during three airborne in situ field campaigns.
Riming, i.e., the accretion of small droplets on the surface of ice particles via collision, is...
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