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Role of sulphuric acid, ammonia and galactic cosmic rays in atmospheric aerosol nucleation

Author

Listed:
  • Jasper Kirkby

    (CERN)

  • Joachim Curtius

    (Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • João Almeida

    (Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
    SIM, University of Lisbon and University of Beira Interior, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Eimear Dunne

    (University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment, LS2-9JT Leeds, United Kingdom)

  • Jonathan Duplissy

    (CERN
    University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
    Helsinki Institute of Physics, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Sebastian Ehrhart

    (Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • Alessandro Franchin

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Stéphanie Gagné

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
    Helsinki Institute of Physics, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Luisa Ickes

    (Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • Andreas Kürten

    (Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • Agnieszka Kupc

    (University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Axel Metzger

    (Ionicon Analytik GmbH and University of Innsbruck, Institute for Ion and Applied Physics, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Francesco Riccobono

    (Paul Scherrer Institut, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland)

  • Linda Rondo

    (Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • Siegfried Schobesberger

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Georgios Tsagkogeorgas

    (Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Daniela Wimmer

    (Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • Antonio Amorim

    (SIM, University of Lisbon and University of Beira Interior, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Federico Bianchi

    (Paul Scherrer Institut, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
    University of Milan, Metallorganic, and Analytical Chemistry, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Martin Breitenlechner

    (Ionicon Analytik GmbH and University of Innsbruck, Institute for Ion and Applied Physics, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • André David

    (CERN)

  • Josef Dommen

    (Paul Scherrer Institut, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland)

  • Andrew Downard

    (California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA)

  • Mikael Ehn

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Richard C. Flagan

    (California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA)

  • Stefan Haider

    (CERN)

  • Armin Hansel

    (Ionicon Analytik GmbH and University of Innsbruck, Institute for Ion and Applied Physics, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Daniel Hauser

    (Ionicon Analytik GmbH and University of Innsbruck, Institute for Ion and Applied Physics, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Werner Jud

    (Ionicon Analytik GmbH and University of Innsbruck, Institute for Ion and Applied Physics, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Heikki Junninen

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Fabian Kreissl

    (Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • Alexander Kvashin

    (Lebedev Physical Institute, Solar and Cosmic Ray Research Laboratory, 119991 Moscow, Russia)

  • Ari Laaksonen

    (University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Katrianne Lehtipalo

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Jorge Lima

    (SIM, University of Lisbon and University of Beira Interior, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Edward R. Lovejoy

    (NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory)

  • Vladimir Makhmutov

    (Lebedev Physical Institute, Solar and Cosmic Ray Research Laboratory, 119991 Moscow, Russia)

  • Serge Mathot

    (CERN)

  • Jyri Mikkilä

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Pierre Minginette

    (CERN)

  • Sandra Mogo

    (SIM, University of Lisbon and University of Beira Interior, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Tuomo Nieminen

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Antti Onnela

    (CERN)

  • Paulo Pereira

    (SIM, University of Lisbon and University of Beira Interior, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Tuukka Petäjä

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Ralf Schnitzhofer

    (Ionicon Analytik GmbH and University of Innsbruck, Institute for Ion and Applied Physics, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • John H. Seinfeld

    (California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA)

  • Mikko Sipilä

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
    Helsinki Institute of Physics, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Yuri Stozhkov

    (Lebedev Physical Institute, Solar and Cosmic Ray Research Laboratory, 119991 Moscow, Russia)

  • Frank Stratmann

    (Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Antonio Tomé

    (SIM, University of Lisbon and University of Beira Interior, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Joonas Vanhanen

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Yrjo Viisanen

    (Finnish Meteorological Institute, FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Aron Vrtala

    (University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Paul E. Wagner

    (University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Hansueli Walther

    (Paul Scherrer Institut, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland)

  • Ernest Weingartner

    (Paul Scherrer Institut, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland)

  • Heike Wex

    (Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Paul M. Winkler

    (University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Kenneth S. Carslaw

    (University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment, LS2-9JT Leeds, United Kingdom)

  • Douglas R. Worsnop

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
    Aerodyne Research Inc.)

  • Urs Baltensperger

    (Paul Scherrer Institut, Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland)

  • Markku Kulmala

    (University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

Cloud cover at CERN A substantial source of cloud condensation nuclei in the atmospheric boundary layer is thought to originate from the nucleation of trace sulphuric acid vapour. Despite extensive research, we still lack a quantitative understanding of the nucleation mechanism and the possible role of cosmic rays, creating one of the largest uncertainties in atmospheric models and climate predictions. Jasper Kirkby and colleagues present the first results from the CLOUD experiment at CERN, which studies nucleation and other ion-aerosol cloud interactions under precisely controlled conditions. They find that atmospherically relevant ammonia mixing ratios of 100 parts per trillion by volume increase the nucleation rate of sulphuric acid particles by more than a factor of 100 to 1,000. They also find that ion-induced binary nucleation of H2SO4–H2O can occur in the mid-troposphere, but is negligible in the boundary layer and so additional species are necessary. Even with the large enhancements in rate caused by ammonia and ions, they conclude that atmospheric concentrations of ammonia and sulphuric acid are insufficient to account for observed boundary layer nucleation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jasper Kirkby & Joachim Curtius & João Almeida & Eimear Dunne & Jonathan Duplissy & Sebastian Ehrhart & Alessandro Franchin & Stéphanie Gagné & Luisa Ickes & Andreas Kürten & Agnieszka Kupc & Axel Met, 2011. "Role of sulphuric acid, ammonia and galactic cosmic rays in atmospheric aerosol nucleation," Nature, Nature, vol. 476(7361), pages 429-433, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:476:y:2011:i:7361:d:10.1038_nature10343
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10343
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    Cited by:

    1. Wei Nie & Chao Yan & Liwen Yang & Pontus Roldin & Yuliang Liu & Alexander L. Vogel & Ugo Molteni & Dominik Stolzenburg & Henning Finkenzeller & Antonio Amorim & Federico Bianchi & Joachim Curtius & Lu, 2023. "NO at low concentration can enhance the formation of highly oxygenated biogenic molecules in the atmosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Bas van Geel & Peter A. Ziegler, 2013. "Ipcc Underestimates the Sun's Role in Climate Change," Energy & Environment, , vol. 24(3-4), pages 431-453, June.
    3. Jyrki Kauppinen & Jorma Heinonen & Pekka Malmi, 2014. "Influence of Relative Humidity and Clouds on the Global Mean Surface Temperature," Energy & Environment, , vol. 25(2), pages 389-399, April.

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