New particle formation in the free troposphere: a question of chemistry and timing

Bianchi, F.; Tröstl, J.; Junninen, H.; Frege, C.; Henne, S.; Hoyle, C.R.; Molteni, U.; Herrmann, E.; Adamov, A.; Bukowiecki, N.; Chen, X.; Duplissy, J.; Gysel, M.; Hutterli, M.; Kangasluoma, J.; Kontkanen, J.; Kürten, A.; Manninen, H.E.; Münch, S.; Peräkylä, O.; Petäjä, T.; Rondo, L.; Williamson, C.; Weingartner, E.; Curtius, J.; Worsnop, D.R.; Kulmala, M.; Dommen, J.; Baltensperger, U.

doi:10.1126/science.aad5456

New particle formation in the free troposphere: a question of chemistry and timing

Bianchi F, Tröstl J, Junninen H, Frege C, Henne S, Hoyle CR, Molteni U, Herrmann E, Adamov A, Bukowiecki N, Chen X, Duplissy J, Gysel M, Hutterli M, Kangasluoma J, Kontkanen J, Kürten A, Manninen HE, Münch S, Peräkylä O, Petäjä T, Rondo L, Williamson C, Weingartner E, Curtius J, Worsnop DR, Kulmala M, Dommen J & Baltensperger U

Citation

Bianchi, F., Tröstl, J., Junninen, H., Frege, C., Henne, S., Hoyle, C. R., … Baltensperger, U. (2016). New particle formation in the free troposphere: a question of chemistry and timing. Science, 352(6289), 1109-1112. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad5456

Persistent URL https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/psi/islandora/object/psi:8022

New particle formation (NPF) is the source of over half of the atmosphere's cloud condensation nuclei, thus influencing cloud properties and Earth's energy balance. Unlike in the planetary boundary layer, few observations of NPF in the free troposphere exist. We provide observational evidence that at high altitudes, NPF occurs mainly through condensation of highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs), in addition to taking place through sulfuric acid-ammonia nucleation. Neutral nucleation is more than 10 times faster than ion-induced nucleation, and growth rates are size-dependent. NPF is restricted to a time window of 1 to 2 days after contact of the air masses with the planetary boundary layer; this is related to the time needed for oxidation of organic compounds to form HOMs. These findings require improved NPF parameterization in atmospheric models.

Details

Publication Type

Journal Article

Title

New particle formation in the free troposphere: a question of chemistry and timing

Author(s)

Bianchi, F. (5504 Smogkammer)

Tröstl, J. (5502 Aerosol Physics)

Junninen, H.

Frege, C. (5504 Smogkammer)

Henne, S.

Hoyle, C.R. (5504 Smogkammer)