Size matters more than chemistry for cloud-nucleating ability of aerosol particles

U. Dusek*, G. P. Frank, L. Hildebrandt, J. Curtius, J. Schneider, S. Walter, D. Chand, F. Drewnick, S. Hings, D. Jung, S. Borrmann, M. O. Andreae

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

750 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Size-resolved cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) spectra measured for various aerosol types at a non-urban site in Germany showed that CCN concentrations are mainly determined by the aerosol number size distribution. Distinct variations of CCN activation with particle chemical composition were observed but played a secondary role. When the temporal variation of chemical effects on CCN activation is neglected, variation in the size distribution alone explains 84 to 96% of the variation in CCN concentrations. Understanding that particles' ability to act as CCN is largely controlled by aerosol size rather than composition greatly facilitates the treatment of aerosol effects on cloud physics in regional and global models.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1375-1378
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume312
Issue number5778
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2-Jun-2006
Externally publishedYes

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