Articles | Volume 23, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2525-2023
© Author(s) 2023. 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-23-2525-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
23 Feb 2023
Research article |
| 23 Feb 2023
Microphysics of liquid water in sub-10 nm ultrafine aerosol particles
Xiaohan Li
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Ian C. Bourg
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Related authors
Xiaohan Li, Songmiao Fan, Huan Guo, and Paul Ginoux
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4224, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4224, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
We used computer simulations to show that soot from wildfires and human activities has a bigger impact on high-altitude clouds than previously known. These particles create more ice crystals, which leads to a net warming effect on the climate in polar regions. Understanding this process is crucial for making accurate climate predictions as global wildfire activity increases.
Xiaohan Li, Songmiao Fan, Huan Guo, and Paul Ginoux
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4224, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4224, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
We used computer simulations to show that soot from wildfires and human activities has a bigger impact on high-altitude clouds than previously known. These particles create more ice crystals, which leads to a net warming effect on the climate in polar regions. Understanding this process is crucial for making accurate climate predictions as global wildfire activity increases.
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Short summary
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.
Aerosol particles with sizes smaller than 50 nm impact cloud formation and precipitation....
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