Ion-induced sulfuric acid-ammonia nucleation drives particle formation in coastal Antarctica.

ABSTRACT: Formation of new aerosol particles from trace gases is a major source of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the global atmosphere, with potentially large effects on cloud optical properties and Earth's radiative balance. Controlled laboratory experiments have resolved, in detail, the different nucleation pathways likely responsible for atmospheric new particle formation, yet very little is known from field studies about the molecular steps and compounds involved in different regions of the atmosphere. The scarcity of primary particle sources makes secondary aerosol formation particularly important in the Antarctic atmosphere. Here, we report on the observation of ion-induced nucleation of sulfuric acid and ammonia-a process experimentally investigated by the CERN CLOUD experiment-as a majo

SUBMITTER: Jokinen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6261657 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature