Detecting charging state of ultra-fine particles: instrumental development and ambient measurements

Laakso, Lauri; Gagné, S.; Petäj̈ä, Tuukka; Hirsikko, Anne; Aalto, Pasi; Kulmala, Markku; Kerminen, V.-M.

doi:10.5194/acp-7-1333-2007

Cited by 117 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Yu (2006a) utilized a kinetically consistent ion-mediated nucleation model (IMN) to demonstrate that ions can lead to significant particle formation not only in the upper troposphere but also in the lower troposphere (including boundary layer). The role of ions in many boundary layer nucleation events has been recently confirmed by observations of evolving charged cluster distributions exhibiting significant overcharging in the nanometer size range during nucleation events (Vana et al, 2006;Hirsikko et al, 2007;Laakso et al, 2007). Nevertheless, the relative importance of ionmediated nucleation versus neutral nucleation under varying atmospheric conditions remains unresolved (Vana et al, 2006;Iida et al, 2006;Hirsikko et al, 2007;Laakso et al, 2007;Kulmala et al, 2007;Turco, 2007, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Ion-mediated nucleation as an important global source of tropospheric aerosols

et al. 2008

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Abstract. Aerosol nucleation events have been observed at a variety of locations worldwide, and may have significant climatic and health implications. While ions have long been suggested as favorable nucleation embryos, their significance as a global source of particles has remained uncertain. Here, an ion-mediated nucleation (IMN) mechanism, which incorporates new thermodynamic data and physical algorithms, has been integrated into a global chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to study ion-mediated particle formation in the global troposphere. The simulated annual mean results have been compared to a comprehensive set of data relevant to particle nucleation around the globe. We show that predicted annual spatial patterns of particle formation agree reasonably well with land-, ship-, and aircraft-based observations. Our simulations show that, globally, IMN in the boundary layer is largely confined to two broad latitude belts: one in the northern hemisphere (∼20 • N-70 • N), and one in the southern hemisphere (∼30 • S-90 • S). In the middle latitude boundary layer over continents, the annual mean IMN rates are generally above 10 4 cm −3 day −1 , with some hot spots reaching 10 5 cm −3 day −1 . The zonally-averaged vertical distribution of IMN rates indicates that IMN is significant in the tropical upper troposphere, the entire middle latitude troposphere, and over Antarctica. Comparing the relative strengths of particle sources due to IMN and due to primary particle emissions demonstrates that IMN is significant on a global scale. Further research is needed to reduce modeling uncertainties and to understand the ultimate contribution of freshly nucleated particles to the abundance of cloud condensation nuclei.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Ion-mediated nucleation as an important global source of tropospheric aerosols

et al. 2008

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“…Some of the studies presented here indicate that the contribution from INU is just a few percent, compared to other nucleation mechanisms (Iida et al, 2006;Laakso et al, 2007). On the other hand there are also studies which point to ions as being a dominant source of new particles (Yu et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In several observations (Vana et al, 2006;Iida et al, 2006;Laakso et al, 2007;Komppula et al, 2007) the charged fraction of the particles are used to evaluate the contribution of INU. Since particles nucleate below the limit of detection the charged fraction may change from the time of nucleation and until detection.…”

Section: Charged Fractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A quantitative study showed that the average contribution of INU was about 0.5%. Laakso et al (2007) developed an instrument to measure the charged fraction of particles in nucleation events. Particles were passed through a charger that could be turned on and off, and the size distribution was then determined by a differential mobility particle sizer with a switchable polarity to measure either positive or negative ions.…”

Section: Nucleationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of atmospheric ions in aerosol nucleation – a review

2008

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Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols affect climate and yet the reason for many observed events of new aerosol formation is not understood. One of the theories put forward to explain these events is that the presence of ions can enhance the formation of aerosols. The theory is called Ion Induced Nucleation and in this paper the state of observations, theory and experiments within the field will be reviewed. While evidence for Ion Induced Nucleation is accumulating the exact mechanism is still not known and more research is required to understand and quantify the effect.

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“…Additionally, campaign-wise observations indicate a connection between nucleation mode growth and ambient concentrations of monoterpenes (Laaksonen et al, 2008) -which is a dominant group of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by boreal forests. Direct measurements of particle composition have shown that most of the growth of particles in nucleation and Aitken mode size ranges (10-33 nm) may be due to oxygenated and/or nitrogen containing organics such as amines (Allan et al, 2006;Smith et al, 2008Smith et al, , 2010Barsanti et al, 2009), and indirect composition measurements suggest that significant fraction of also sub-10 nm particle mass may be organic (O'Dowd et al, 2002;Kulmala et al, 2007a;Riipinen et al, 2009). The comparison of the particle growth rates between the various studies, as well as analysis of the growth rates as a function of the particle size requires estimation of the accuracy of the determined growth rates, information which is rarely found in publications.…”

Section: T Yli-juuti Et Al: Growth Rates Of Nucleation Mode Particlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth rates of nucleation mode particles in Hyytiälä during 2003−2009: variation with particle size, season, data analysis method and ambient conditions

et al. 2011

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Abstract. The condensational growth rate of aerosol particles formed in atmospheric new particle formation events is one of the most important factors influencing the lifetime of these particles and their ability to become climatically relevant. Diameter growth rates (GR) of nucleation mode particles were studied based on almost 7 yr of data measured during the years 2003-2009 at a boreal forest measurement station SMEAR II in Hyytiälä, Finland. The particle growth rates were estimated using particle size distributions measured with a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS), a Balanced Scanning Mobility Analyzer (BSMA) and an Air Ion Spectrometer (AIS). Two GR analysis methods were tested. The particle growth rates were also compared to an extensive set of ambient meteorological parameters and trace gas concentrations to investigate the processes/constituents limiting the aerosol growth. The median growth rates of particles in the nucleation mode size ranges with diameters of 1.5-3 nm, 3-7 nm and 7-20 nm were 1.9 nm h −1 , 3.8 nm h −1 , and 4.3 nm h −1 , respectively. The median relative uncertainties in the growth rates due to the size distribution instrumentation in these size ranges were 25 %, 19 %, and 8 %, respectively. For the smallest particles (1.5-3 nm) the AIS data yielded on average higher growth rate values than the BSMA data, and higher growth rates were obtained from positively charged size distributions as compared with negatively charged particles. For particles larger than 3 nm in diameter no such systematic differences were found. For these particles the uncertainty in the growth rate related to Correspondence to: T. Yli-Juuti (taina.yli-juuti@helsinki.fi) the analysis method, with relative uncertainty of 16 %, was similar to that related to the instruments. The growth rates of 7-20 nm particles showed positive correlation with monoterpene concentrations and their oxidation rate by ozone. The oxidation rate by OH did not show a connection with GR. Our results indicate that the growth of nucleation mode particles in Hyytiälä is mainly limited by the concentrations of organic precursors.

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Detecting charging state of ultra-fine particles: instrumental development and ambient measurements

Cited by 117 publications

References 33 publications

Ion-mediated nucleation as an important global source of tropospheric aerosols

Ion-mediated nucleation as an important global source of tropospheric aerosols

The role of atmospheric ions in aerosol nucleation – a review

Growth rates of nucleation mode particles in Hyytiälä during 2003−2009: variation with particle size, season, data analysis method and ambient conditions

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