Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
www.atmos-chem-phys.net
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7
6
2007
10.5194/acp-7-1491-2007
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/1491/2007/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/1491/2007/acp-7-1491-2007.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/1491/2007/acp-7-1491-2007.pdf
1491
1501
2007-03-19
Airborne measurements of nucleation mode particles I: coastal nucleation and growth rates
C. D. O'Dowd
colin.odowd@cmas.demon.co.uk
Y. J. Yoon
W. Junkerman
P. Aalto
M. Kulmala
H. Lihavainen
Y. Viisanen
Dept. of Physics & Environmental Change Institute, National Univ. of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
Korea Polar Research Institute, KORDI, 7-50, Songdo-dong, Incheon 406-840, Korea
Fraunhofer Inst. for Atmospheric Environmental Research, Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Department of Physical Sciences, P.O.Box 64 (Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2) PL 64, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Erik Palménin aukio, P.O.Box 503, 00101, Helsinki, Finland
A light aircraft was equipped with a bank of Condensation Particle Counters
(CPCs) (50% cut from 3–5.4–9.6 nm) and a nano-Scanning Mobility
Particle Sizer (nSMPS) and deployed along the west coast of Ireland, in the
vicinity of Mace Head. The objective of the exercise was to provide high
resolution micro-physical measurements of the coastal nucleation mode in
order to map the spatial extent of new particle production regions and to
evaluate the evolution, and associated growth rates of the coastal
nucleation-mode aerosol plume. Results indicate that coastal new particle
production is occurring over most areas along the land-sea interface with
peak concentrations at the coastal plume-head in excess of 10<sup>6</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>. Pseudo-Lagrangian studies of the coastal plume evolution
illustrated significant growth of new particles to sizes in excess of 8 nm
approximately 10 km downwind of the source region. Close to the plume head
(<1 km) growth rates can be as high as 123–171 nm h<sup>−1</sup>, decreasing
gradually to 53–72 nm h<sup>−1</sup> at 3 km. Further along the plume, at
distances up to 10 km, the growth rates are calculated to be 17–32 nm h<sup>−1</sup>. Growth rates of this magnitude suggest that after a couple of
hours, coastal nucleation mode particles can reach significant sizes where
they can contribution to the regional aerosol loading.
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