Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-684
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-684
10 Nov 2022
 | 10 Nov 2022
Status: a revised version of this preprint was accepted for the journal ACP and is expected to appear here in due course.

Technical note: Sublimation of frozen CsCl solutions in ESEM: determining the number and size of salt particles relevant to sea-salt aerosols

Ľubica Vetráková, Vilém Neděla, Kamila Závacká, Xin Yang, and Dominik Heger

Abstract. Here we present a novel technique that enlightens the mechanism of formation of small aerosolizable salt particles from salty frozen samples. We demonstrated that CsCl may be a suitable probe for the sea salt due to their similar subzero properties and sublimation outcomes: Using CsCl substantially increased the visibility of the salt both during and after ice sublimation. Hence, we identified the factors that, during the sublimation of a frozen salty solution, are important in generating fine salt particles as a possible source of salt aerosol. The number, size, and structure of the particles that remain after ice sublimation were investigated with respect to the concentration of the salt in the sample, the freezing method, and the sublimation temperature. The last-named aspect is evidently of primary importance for the preference of fine salt crystals over a large compact piece of salt: We showed that the formation of the small salt particles is generally restricted if the brine is liquid during the ice sublimation, i.e., at temperatures higher than the eutectic temperature (Teu). Small salt particles that might be a source of atmospheric aerosols were formed predominantly at the temperatures below the Teu, and their structures strongly depended on the concentration of the salt. For example, the sublimation of those samples that exhibited less than 8 psu (0.05 M) often produced small aerosolizable isolated particles readily able to be windblown. Conversely, the sublimation of 78 psu (0.5 M) samples led to the formation of relatively stable and largely interconnected salt structures. Our findings are in a good agreement with other laboratory studies unsuccessfully seeking for salt aerosols, e.g., from the frost flowers, at temperatures above the Teu. This study offers an explanation of this previously unexplained behaviour.

Ľubica Vetráková et al.

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-684', Anonymous Referee #1, 02 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2022-684', Anonymous Referee #2, 04 Dec 2022

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-684', Anonymous Referee #1, 02 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2022-684', Anonymous Referee #2, 04 Dec 2022

Ľubica Vetráková et al.

Ľubica Vetráková et al.

Viewed

Total article views: 430 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
332 83 15 430 29 3 4
  • HTML: 332
  • PDF: 83
  • XML: 15
  • Total: 430
  • Supplement: 29
  • BibTeX: 3
  • EndNote: 4
Views and downloads (calculated since 10 Nov 2022)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 10 Nov 2022)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 416 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 416 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 19 Mar 2023
Download
Short summary
Salt aerosols are important to polar atmospheric chemistry and global climate. Therefore, we utilized a unique electron microscope to identify the most suitable conditions for formation of the small salt (CsCl) particles, proxies of the aerosols, from sublimating salty snow. Very low sublimation temperature and low salt concentration are needed for formation of such particles. These observations may help us to better understood polar spring ozone depletion and bromine explosion events.
Altmetrics