0000000000157225

AUTHOR

Alfred Wiedensohler

Modelling the optical properties of fresh biomass burning aerosol produced in a smoke chamber: results from the EFEU campaign

A better characterisation of the optical properties of biomass burning aerosol as a function of the burning conditions is required in order to quantify their effects on climate and atmospheric chemistry. Controlled laboratory combustion experiments with different fuel types were carried out at the combustion facility of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Mainz, Germany) as part of the "Impact of Vegetation Fires on the Composition and Circulation of the Atmosphere" (EFEU) project. The combustion conditions were monitored with concomitant CO<sub>2</sub> and CO measurements. The mass scattering efficiencies of 8.9±0.2 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup&gt…

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Ground-based off-line aerosol measurements at Praia, Cape Verde, during the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment: microphysical properties and mineralogy

A large field experiment of the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment (SAMUM) was performed in Praia, Cape Verde, in January and February 2008. This work reports on the aerosol mass concentrations, size distributions and mineralogical composition of the aerosol arriving at Praia. Three dust periods were recorded during the measurements, divided by transitional periods and embedded in maritime-influenced situations. The total suspended particle mass/PM 10 /PM 2.5 were 250/180/74 μg/m 3 on average for the first dust period (17–21 January) and 250/230/83 μg/m 3 for the second (24–26 January). The third period (28 January to 2 February) was the most intensive with 410/340/130 μg/m 3 . Four modes were…

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General overview: European Integrated project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality interactions (EUCAARI)-integrating aerosol research from nano to global scales

In this paper we describe and summarize the main achievements of the European Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality Interactions project (EUCAARI). EUCAARI started on 1 January 2007 and ended on 31 December 2010 leaving a rich legacy including: (a) a comprehensive database with a year of observations of the physical, chemical and optical properties of aerosol particles over Europe, (b) comprehensive aerosol measurements in four developing countries, (c) a database of airborne measurements of aerosols and clouds over Europe during May 2008, (d) comprehensive modeling tools to study aerosol processes fron nano to global scale and their effects on climate and air quality. In addition a new Pan…

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Competition of coagulation sink and source rate: New particle formation in the Pearl River Delta of China

The coagulation sink and its role in new particle formation are investigated based on data obtained during the PRIDE-PRD2004 campaign at Xinken of Pearl River Delta, China. Analysis of size distributions and mode contributions of the coagulation sink show that the observed higher load of accumulation mode particles impose a significant effect on the coagulation sink and result in higher coagulation sinks at Xinken despite of the lower total particle number compared with other areas. Hence it is concluded that the higher coagulation sink may depress the occurrence frequency of new particle formation events. The strategies targeting at controlling accumulation mode particles may have influenc…

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The Arctic Cloud Puzzle: Using ACLOUD/PASCAL Multiplatform Observations to Unravel the Role of Clouds and Aerosol Particles in Arctic Amplification

A consortium of polar scientists combined observational forces in a field campaign of unprecedented complexity to uncover the secrets of clouds and their role in Arctic amplification. Two research aircraft, an icebreaker research vessel, an ice-floe camp including an instrumented tethered balloon, and a permanent ground-based measurement station were employed in this endeavour. Clouds play an important role in Arctic amplification. This term represents the recently observed enhanced warming of the Arctic relative to the global increase of near-surface air temperature. However, there are still important knowledge gaps regarding the interplay between Arctic clouds and aerosol particles, surfa…

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Regional Saharan dust modelling during the SAMUM 2006 campaign

The regional dust model system LM-MUSCAT-DES was developed in the framework of the SAMUM project. Using the unique comprehensive data set of near-source dust properties during the 2006 SAMUM field campaign, the performance of the model system is evaluated for two time periods in May and June 2006. Dust optical thicknesses, number size distributions and the position of the maximum dust extinction in the vertical profiles agree well with the observations. However, the spatio-temporal evolution of the dust plumes is not always reproduced due to inaccuracies in the dust source placement by the model. While simulated winds and dust distributions are well matched for dust events caused by dry syn…

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A new method to measure the size distribution of insoluble submicron particles in water

Abstract In the atmosphere, cloud and fog droplets usually contain insoluble material. The role of these insoluble particles is still unknown today, and is of interest to study. To determine the size distribution and number concentration of these particles in water, different techniques are available. The instrumentation, however, to measure nanometer-sized particles down to 50 nm diameter is not known. A new instrument, the Liquid Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser (LTDMA), was developed to measure size distributions of insoluble particles in water in the size range 50–300 nm in diameter. The new method is based on nebulising, e.g. cloud water and forming a residue aerosol consisting of…

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Phase partitioning of aerosol particles in clouds at Kleiner Feldberg

The partitioning of aerosol particles between cloud droplets and interstitial air by number and volume was determined both in terms of an integral value and as a function of size for clouds on Mt. Kleiner Feldberg (825 m asl), in the Taunus Mountains north-west of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Differences in the integral values and the size dependent partitioning between two periods during the campaign were observed. Higher number and volume concentrations of aerosol particles in the accumulation mode were observed during Period II compared to Period I. In Period I on average 87 ± 11% (±one standard deviation) and 73 ± 7% of the accumulation mode volume and number were incorporated into cloud…

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A new method for measurements of insoluble submicron particles in water

Abstract A new method was developed to determine the size distribution of insoluble particles in e.g., fog water in the particle size range 50 nm p nm. First the water was nebulized and than the droplets dried to form residual aerosol particles. Using a Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser (TDMA), soluble and insoluble particles were separated. The system was calibrated with monodisperse latex particles to determine the loss factor for insoluble particles.

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Size distribution, mass concentration, chemical and mineralogical composition and derived optical parameters of the boundary layer aerosol at Tinfou, Morocco, during SAMUM 2006

During the SAMUM 2006 field campaign in southern Morocco, physical and chemical properties of desert aerosols were measured. Mass concentrations ranging from 30 Ã�¼g m-3 for PM2.5 under desert background conditions up to 300,000 Ã�¼g m-3 for total suspended particles (TSP) during moderate dust storms were measured. TSP dust concentrations are correlated with the local wind speed, whereas PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations are determined by advection from distant sources. Size distributions were measured for particles between 20 nm and 500 Ã�¼m diameter (parameterizations are given). Two major regimes of the size spectrum can be distinguished. Smaller than 500 nm particle diameter, the distrib…

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The Kleiner Feldberg Cloud Experiment 1990. An overview

An overview is given of the Kleiner Feldberg cloud experiment performed from 27 October until 13 November 1990. The experiment was carried out by numerous European research groups as a joint effort within the EUROTRAC-GCE project in order to study the interaction of cloud droplets with atmospheric trace constituents. After a description of the observational site and the measurements which were performed, the general cloud formation mechanisms encountered during the experiment are discussed. Special attention is given here to the process of moist adiabatic lifting. Furthermore, an overview is given regarding the pollutant levels in the gas phase, the particulate and the liquid phase, and som…

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Number size distribution of insolubleatmospheric aerosol particles in fog/cloud-water

AbstractThe design and the efficiency — curve of a newly developed fog/cloud-water sampler (rotating arm collector)is discussed. Fog/cloud-water samples were taken during Oct./Nov. 1990 on the mountain ‘Kleiner Feldberg’/Taunus, FRG. The number size distribution of the insoluble atmospheric aerosol particles in water is determined in the size range 0.025μm p . The size distribution of activated aerosol particles in air is derived from this distribution. Comparison of the spectrum of the activated aerosol particles with the total distribution of aerosol particles in air (measured during the same campaign, but in the size range 0.008μm p ) indicates, that in the size range r p > 0.06μm the ma…

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