Measurements of the Rate of Cloud Droplet Formation on Atmospheric Particles
Ruehl CR, Chuang P, Nenes A. 2007. Measurements of the Rate of Cloud Droplet Formation on Atmospheric Particles. Pages 585-590. In Nucleation and Atmospheric Aerosols: 17th International Conference. Galway, Ireland. Springer
ABSTRACT: The influence of aerosols on cloud properties is an important modulator of the climate system, however, it is not known to what extent particles exist in the atmosphere that may be prevented from acting as CCN by kinetic limitations. We measured the rate of cloud droplet formation on atmospheric particles sampled at four sites across the United States during the summer of 2006, and found that on 7 of 16 days at 3 of 4 sites, ambient aerosols that grew significantly more slowly than ammonium sulfate aerosol were present. These results suggest that for some air masses, accurate quantification of CCN concentrations may need to account for kinetic limitations.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Ruehl, Chris; Chuang, Patrick; Nenes, Athanasios
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- aerosol, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, cloud formation, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-00428, Look Rock, meteorology, SER, Southeast Region