scholarly journals Investigation of new particle formation at the summit of Mt. Tai, China

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganglin Lv ◽  
Xiao Sui ◽  
Jianmin Chen ◽  
Rohan Jayaratne ◽  
Abdelwahid Mellouki
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Sulfur Dioxide ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Total Particle

Abstract. To date very few field observations of new particle formation (NPF) have been carried out at the high-elevation mountain sites in China. Simultaneously measurements of particle size distributions, gas species, meteorological conditions and PM2.5 were performed at the summit of Mt. Tai (1530 m ASL) from 25 July to 24 October 2014 (І), 21 September to 9 December 2014 (И) and 16 June to 7 August 2015 (Ш). The results showed that: (i) 66 NPF events were observed during 164 days, corresponding to an occurrence frequency of 40 %. Formation rates, growth rates and condensation sinks were in the range of 1.10–57.43 cm−3 s−1, 0.58–7.76 nm h−1 and 0.40 × 10−2–6.32 × 10−2 s−1, respectively, and Mt. Tai appeared to show the larger formation rate and smaller growth rate relative to other locations in China. The mean value of sulfur dioxide on NPF days was 46 % higher than that on non-NPF days, and a higher sulfur dioxide concentration could improve the possibility of rich precursors for NPF. (ii) Sulfuric acid condensation contributed to 16.20 % of growth rate, and sulfuric acid proxy showed an obvious correlation with total particle concentration of 3–6 nm (N3–6 nm). (iii) Low PM2.5 was favourable for nucleation, and NPF days with limited higher PM2.5 seemed to have larger growth rates which might be related to particles recombination in close sizes. Four NPF events were observed on haze episodes, which could be promoted by potential specific mechanisms or pollutants. (iv) Particles formed via NPF on both clean and polluted days mainly contributed to Aiken mode eventually, and PM2.5 variation was always in accordance with particle total volume concentration.

scholarly journals Basic characteristics of atmospheric particles, trace gases and meteorology in a relatively clean Southern African Savannah environment

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 6313-6353 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Laakso ◽  
H. Laakso ◽  
P. P. Aalto ◽  
P. Keronen ◽  
T. Petäjä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Total Particle ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10

Abstract. We have analyzed one year (July 2006–July 2007) of measurement data from a relatively clean background site located in dry savannah in South Africa. The annual-median trace gas concentrations were equal to 0.7 ppb for SO2, 1.4 ppb for NOx, 36 ppb for O3 and 105 ppb for CO. The corresponding PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were 9.0, 10.5 and 18.8 μg m−3, and the annual median total particle number concentration in the size range 10–840 nm was 2340 cm−3. Gases and particles had a clear seasonal and diurnal variation, which was associated with field fires and biological activity together with local meteorology. Atmospheric new-particle formation was observed to take place in more than 90% of the analyzed days. The days with no new particle formation were cloudy or rainy days. The formation rate of 10 nm particles varied in the range of 0.1–28 cm−3 s−1 (median 1.9 cm−3 s−1) and nucleation mode particle growth rates were in the range 3–21 nm h−1 (median 8.5 nm h−1). Due to high formation and growth rates, observed new particle formation gives a significant contribute to the number of cloud condensation nuclei budget, having a potential to affect the regional climate forcing patterns.

scholarly journals Global analysis of continental boundary layer new particle formation based on long-term measurements

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuomo Nieminen ◽  
Veli-Matti Kerminen ◽  
Tuukka Petäjä ◽  
Pasi P. Aalto ◽  
Mikhail Arshinov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
The World ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

Abstract. Atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) is an important phenomenon in terms of the global particle number concentrations. Here we investigated the frequency of NPF, formation rates of 10 nm particles and growth rates in the size range of 10–25 nm using at least one year of aerosol number size-distribution observations at 36 different locations around the world. The majority of these measurement sites are in the Northern Hemisphere. We found that the NPF frequency has a strong seasonal variability, taking place on about 30 % of the days in March–May and on about 10 % of the days in December–February. The median formation rate of 10 nm particles varies by about three orders of magnitude (0.01–10 cm−3 s−1) and the growth rate by about an order of magnitude (1–10 nm h−1). The smallest values of both formation and growth rates were observed at polar sites and the largest ones in urban environments or anthropogenically influenced rural sites. The correlation between the NPF event frequency and the particle formation and growth rate was at best moderate between the different measurement sites, as well as between the sites belonging to a certain environmental regime. For a better understanding of atmospheric NPF and its regional importance, we would need more observational data from different urban areas in practically all parts of the world, from additional remote and rural locations in Northern America, Asia and most of the Southern Hemisphere (especially Australia), from polar areas, and from at least a few locations over the oceans.

scholarly journals Observation of aerosol size distribution and new particle formation at a mountain site in subtropical Hong Kong

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 9923-9939 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Guo ◽  
D. W. Wang ◽  
K. Cheung ◽  
Z. H. Ling ◽  
C. K. Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Nucleation Mode

Abstract. In order to investigate the formation and growth processes of nucleation mode particles, and to quantify the particle number (PN) concentration and size distributions in Hong Kong, an intensive field measurement was conducted from 25 October to 29 November in 2010 near the mountain summit of Tai Mo Shan, a suburban site approximately the geographical centre of the New Territories in Hong Kong. Based on observations of the particle size distribution, new particle formation (NPF) events were found on 12 out of 35 days with the estimated formation rate J5.5 from 0.97 to 10.2 cm−3 s−1, and the average growth rates from 1.5 to 8.4 nm h−1. The events usually began at 10:00–11:00 LT characterized by the occurrence of a nucleation mode with a peak diameter of 6–10 nm. Solar radiation, wind speed, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) concentrations were on average higher, whereas temperature, relative humidity and daytime nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration were lower on NPF days than on non-NPF days. Back trajectory analysis suggested that in majority of the NPF event days, the air masses originated from the northwest to northeast directions. The concentrations of gaseous sulfuric acid (SA) showed good power-law relationship with formation rates, with exponents ranging from 1 to 2. The result suggests that the cluster activation theory and kinetic nucleation could potentially explain the observed NPF events in this mountainous atmosphere of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, in these NPF events, the contribution of sulfuric acid vapor to particle growth rate (GR5.5–25) ranged from 9.2 to 52.5% with an average of 26%. Measurement-based calculated oxidation rates of monoterpenes (i.e. α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene and limonene) by O3 positively correlated with the GR5.5–25 (R = 0.80, p < 0.05). The observed associations of the estimated formation rate J5.5 and the growth rate GR5.5–25 with gaseous sulfuric acid and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) suggested the critical roles of sulfuric acid and biogenic VOCs (e.g. α-pinene and β-pinene) in these NPF events.

scholarly journals The contribution of boundary layer nucleation events to total particle concentrations on regional and global scales

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 5631-5648 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. V. Spracklen ◽  
K. S. Carslaw ◽  
M. Kulmala ◽  
V.-M. Kerminen ◽  
G. W. Mann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Surface ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Particle Surface Area ◽  
Primary Particles ◽  
Total Particle

Abstract. The contribution of boundary layer (BL) nucleation events to total particle concentrations on the global scale has been studied by including a new particle formation mechanism in a global aerosol microphysics model. The mechanism is based on an analysis of extensive observations of particle formation in the BL at a continental surface site. It assumes that molecular clusters form at a rate proportional to the gaseous sulfuric acid concentration to the power of 1. The formation rate of 3 nm diameter observable particles is controlled by the cluster formation rate and the existing particle surface area, which acts to scavenge condensable gases and clusters during growth. Modelled sulfuric acid vapour concentrations, particle formation rates, growth rates, coagulation loss rates, peak particle concentrations, and the daily timing of events in the global model agree well with observations made during a 22-day period of March 2003 at the SMEAR II station in Hyytiälä, Finland. The nucleation bursts produce total particle concentrations (>3 nm diameter) often exceeding 104 cm−3, which are sustained for a period of several hours around local midday. The predicted global distribution of particle formation events broadly agrees with what is expected from available observations. Over relatively clean remote continental locations formation events can sustain mean total particle concentrations up to a factor of 8 greater than those resulting from anthropogenic sources of primary organic and black carbon particles. However, in polluted continental regions anthropogenic primary particles dominate particle number and formation events lead to smaller enhancements of up to a factor of 2. Our results therefore suggest that particle concentrations in remote continental regions are dominated by nucleated particles while concentrations in polluted continental regions are dominated by primary particles. The effect of BL particle formation over tropical regions and the Amazon is negligible. These first global particle formation simulations reveal some interesting sensitivities. We show, for example, that significant reductions in primary particle emissions may lead to an increase in total particle concentration because of the coupling between particle surface area and the rate of new particle formation. This result suggests that changes in emissions may have a complicated effect on global and regional aerosol properties. Overall, our results show that new particle formation is a significant component of the aerosol particle number budget.

scholarly journals New particle formation events in semi-clean South African savannah

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3333-3346 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Vakkari ◽  
H. Laakso ◽  
M. Kulmala ◽  
A. Laaksonen ◽  
D. Mabaso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Growth Rate ◽  
Particle Size ◽  
Sulphuric Acid ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Particle Formation And Growth

Abstract. This study is based on 18 months (20 July 2006–5 February 2008) of continuous measurements of aerosol particle size distributions, air ion size distributions, trace gas concentrations and basic meteorology in a semi-clean savannah environment in Republic of South Africa. New particle formation and growth was observed on 69% of the days and bursts of non-growing ions/sub-10 nm particles on additional 14% of the days. This new particle formation frequency is the highest reported from boundary layer so far. Also the new particle formation and growth rates were among the highest reported in the literature for continental boundary layer locations; median 10 nm formation rate was 2.2 cm−3 s−1 and median 10–30 nm growth rate 8.9 nm h−1. The median 2 nm ion formation rate was 0.5 cm−3 s−1 and the median ion growth rates were 6.2, 8.0 and 8.1 nm h−1 for size ranges 1.5–3 nm, 3–7 nm and 7–20 nm, respectively. The growth rates had a clear seasonal dependency with minimum during winter and maxima in spring and late summer. The relative contribution of estimated sulphuric acid to the growth rate was decreasing with increasing particle size and could explain more than 20% of the observed growth rate only for the 1.5–3 nm size range. Also the air mass history analysis indicated the highest formation and growth rates to be associated with the area of highest VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions following from biological activity rather than the highest estimated sulphuric acid concentrations. The frequency of new particle formation, however, increased nearly monotonously with the estimated sulphuric acid reaching 100% at H2SO4 concentration of 6 · 107 cm−3, which suggests the formation and growth to be independent of each other.

scholarly journals Global analysis of continental boundary layer new particle formation based on long-term measurements

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 14737-14756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuomo Nieminen ◽  
Veli-Matti Kerminen ◽  
Tuukka Petäjä ◽  
Pasi P. Aalto ◽  
Mikhail Arshinov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
The World ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

Abstract. Atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) is an important phenomenon in terms of global particle number concentrations. Here we investigated the frequency of NPF, formation rates of 10 nm particles, and growth rates in the size range of 10–25 nm using at least 1 year of aerosol number size-distribution observations at 36 different locations around the world. The majority of these measurement sites are in the Northern Hemisphere. We found that the NPF frequency has a strong seasonal variability. At the measurement sites analyzed in this study, NPF occurs most frequently in March–May (on about 30 % of the days) and least frequently in December–February (about 10 % of the days). The median formation rate of 10 nm particles varies by about 3 orders of magnitude (0.01–10 cm−3 s−1) and the growth rate by about an order of magnitude (1–10 nm h−1). The smallest values of both formation and growth rates were observed at polar sites and the largest ones in urban environments or anthropogenically influenced rural sites. The correlation between the NPF event frequency and the particle formation and growth rate was at best moderate among the different measurement sites, as well as among the sites belonging to a certain environmental regime. For a better understanding of atmospheric NPF and its regional importance, we would need more observational data from different urban areas in practically all parts of the world, from additional remote and rural locations in North America, Asia, and most of the Southern Hemisphere (especially Australia), from polar areas, and from at least a few locations over the oceans.

scholarly journals New particle formation events in semi-clean South African savannah

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 30777-30821 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Vakkari ◽  
H. Laakso ◽  
M. Kulmala ◽  
A. Laaksonen ◽  
D. Mabaso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Sulphuric Acid ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
History Analysis ◽  
Particle Formation And Growth

Abstract. This study is based on 18 months (20 July 2006–5 February 2008) of continuous measurements of aerosol particle size distributions, air ion size distributions, trace gas concentrations and basic meteorology in a semi-clean savannah environment in Republic of South Africa. New particle formation and growth was observed on 69% of the days and bursts of non-growing ions/sub-10 nm particles on additional 14% of the days. The new particle formation and growth rates were among the highest reported in the literature for continental boundary layer locations; median 10 nm formation rate was 2.2 cm−3s−1 and median 10–30 nm growth rate 8.9 nm h−1. The median 2 nm ion formation rate was 0.5 cm−3s−1 and the median ion growth rates were 6.2, 8.0 and 8.1 nm h−1 for size ranges 1.5–3 nm, 3–7 nm and 7–20 nm, respectively. Three different approaches were used to study the origin of the formation and growth rates: seasonal variation, air mass history analysis and estimated sulphuric acid contribution to the growth. The growth rates had a clear seasonal dependency with minimum during winter and maxima in spring and late summer and the air mass history analysis indicated the highest formation and growth rates to be associated with the area of highest VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions rather than the highest estimated sulphuric acid concentrations. The relative contribution of estimated sulphuric acid to the growth rate was decreasing with increasing particle size and could explain more than 20% of the observed growth rate only for the 1.5–3 nm size range. The implication is that the sulphuric acid alone is not enough to explain the growth, but the highest growth rates seem to originate in VOC emissions following from biological activity. The frequency of new particle formation, however, increased nearly monotonously with the estimated sulphuric acid reaching 100% at H2SO4 concentration of 4×107cm−3, which suggests the formation and growth to be independent of each other.

scholarly journals Basic characteristics of atmospheric particles, trace gases and meteorology in a relatively clean Southern African Savannah environment

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (16) ◽  
pp. 4823-4839 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Laakso ◽  
H. Laakso ◽  
P. P. Aalto ◽  
P. Keronen ◽  
T. Petäjä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Total Particle ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10

Abstract. We have analyzed one year (July 2006–July 2007) of measurement data from a relatively clean background site located in dry savannah in South Africa. The annual-median trace gas concentrations were equal to 0.7 ppb for SO2, 1.4 ppb for NOx, 36 ppb for O3 and 105 ppb for CO. The corresponding PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were 9.0, 10.5 and 18.8 μg m−3, and the annual median total particle number concentration in the size range 10–840 nm was 2340 cm−3. During Easterly winds, influence of industrial sources approximately 150 km away from the measurement site was clearly visible, especially in SO2 and NOx concentrations. Of gases, NOx and CO had a clear annual, and SO2, NOx and O3 clear diurnal cycle. Atmospheric new-particle formation was observed to take place in more than 90% of the analyzed days. The days with no new particle formation were cloudy or rainy days. The formation rate of 10 nm particles varied in the range of 0.1–28 cm−3 s−1 (median 1.9 cm−3 s−1) and nucleation mode particle growth rates were in the range 3–21 nm h−1 (median 8.5 nm h−1). Due to high formation and growth rates, observed new particle formation gives a significant contribute to the number of cloud condensation nuclei budget, having a potential to affect the regional climate forcing patterns.

scholarly journals Climatology of new particle formation at Izaña mountain GAW observatory in the subtropical North Atlantic

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 3865-3881 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. García ◽  
S. Rodríguez ◽  
Y. González ◽  
R. D. García
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Particle Growth ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Condensation Sink

Abstract. A climatology of new particle formation (NPF) events at high altitude in the subtropical North Atlantic is presented. A 4-year data set (June 2008–June 2012), which includes number size distributions (10–600 nm), reactive gases (SO2, NOx, and O3), several components of solar radiation and meteorological parameters, measured at Izaña Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) observatory (2373 m above sea level; Tenerife, Canary Islands) was analysed. NPF is associated with the transport of gaseous precursors from the boundary layer by orographic buoyant upward flows that perturb the low free troposphere during daytime. On average, 30% of the days contained an NPF event. Mean values of the formation and growth rates during the study period were 0.46 cm−3 s−1 and 0.42 nm h−1, correspondingly. There is a clearly marked NPF season (May–August), when these events account for 50–60% of the days per month. Monthly mean values of the formation and growth rates exhibit higher values in this season, 0.49–0.92 cm−3 s−1 and 0.48–0.58 nm h−1, respectively. During NPF events, SO2, UV radiation and upslope winds showed higher values than during non-events. The overall data set indicates that SO2 plays a key role as precursor, although other species seem to contribute during some periods. Condensation of sulfuric acid vapour accounts for most of the measured particle growth during most of the year (~70%), except for some periods. In May, the highest mean growth rates (~0.6 nm h−1) and the lowest contribution of sulfuric acid (~13%) were measured, suggesting a significant involvement of other condensing vapours. The SO2 availability seems also to be the most influencing parameter in the year-to-year variability in the frequency of NPF events. The condensation sink showed similar features to other mountain sites, showing high values during NPF events. Summertime observations, when Izaña is within the Saharan Air Layer, suggest that dust particles may play a significant role acting as coagulation sink of freshly formed nucleation particles. The contribution of dust particles to the condensation sink of sulfuric acid vapours seems to be modest (~8% as average). Finally, we identified a set of NPF events in which two nucleation modes, which may evolve at different rates, occur simultaneously and for which further investigations are necessary.

scholarly journals Characterization of Urban New Particle Formation in Amman—Jordan

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tareq Hussein ◽  
Nahid Atashi ◽  
Larisa Sogacheva ◽  
Simo Hakala ◽  
Lubna Dada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Vapor Source ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Pattern Maximum ◽  
The Mean

We characterized new particle formation (NPF) events in the urban background of Amman during August 2016–July 2017. The monthly mean of submicron particle number concentration was 1.2 × 104–3.7 × 104 cm−3 (exhibited seasonal, weekly, and diurnal variation). Nucleation mode (10–15 nm) concentration was 0.7 × 103–1.1 × 103 cm−3 during daytime with a sharp peak (1.1 × 103–1.8 × 103 cm−3) around noon. We identified 110 NPF events (≈34% of all days) of which 55 showed a decreasing mode diameter after growth. The NPF event occurrence was higher in summer than in winter, and events were accompanied with air mass back trajectories crossing over the Eastern Mediterranean. The mean nucleation rate (J10) was 1.9 ± 1.1 cm−3 s−1 (monthly mean 1.6–2.7 cm−3 s−1) and the mean growth rate was 6.8 ± 3.1 nm/h (4.1–8.8 nm/h). The formation rate did not have a seasonal pattern, but the growth rate had a seasonal variation (maximum around August and minimum in winter). The mean condensable vapor source rate was 4.1 ± 2.2 × 105 molecules/cm3 s (2.6–6.9 × 105 molecules/cm3 s) with a seasonal pattern (maximum around August). The mean condensation sink was 8.9 ± 3.3 × 10−3 s−1 (6.4–14.8 × 10−3 s−1) with a seasonal pattern (minimum around June and maximum in winter).

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