Articles | Volume 26, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-15721-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-26-15721-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
09 Nov 2026
Research article |
| 09 Nov 2026
| 09 Nov 2026
Organic condensation derived from different volatility parameterizations and its implications for ambient nanoparticle growth
Chuang Li
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Runlong Cai
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Shanghai, China
Zexin Chen
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Gan Yang
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Feilin Zhao
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Yueyang Li
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Jingyu An
Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
Qiwen Sun
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Sijia Yin
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Shimeng Xu
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Yiliang Liu
Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment of CAS, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
Yixi Ma
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Douglas Worsnop
Aerodyne Research Inc., Billerica, MA 01821, USA
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Air Quality and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Shanghai, China
Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
Data sets
Organic condensation derived from different volatility parameterizations and its implications for ambient nanoparticle growth C. Li https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23737227
Short summary
Aerosols are tiny particles that help clouds form and shape the climate. Newly formed particles must grow quickly to survive, yet how they grow is poorly understood. Combining laboratory experiments with field measurements, we tested seven common methods for predicting nanopaticle growth, with most overestimating how strongly organic vapours condense onto particles. Even the best cannot fully explain the growth we observed in the ambient air, revealing a gap in our understanding.
Aerosols are tiny particles that help clouds form and shape the climate. Newly formed particles...
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