Formation of Secondary Sulfuric Acid Aerosols in Urban Atmosphere

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL004i001p00017· OSTI ID:7236866

Kiang, C S; Middleton, P

A numerical kinetic aerosol model is utilized to study conditions under which secondary sulfuric acid aerosol can be formed in an urban atmosphere. This model incorporates the mechanisms of photochemical reactions, heteromolecular nucleation, heteromolecular condensation and thermal coagulation. Various atmospheric conditions are used to study the effects of production rate of sulfuric acid gaseous molecules, relative humidity, temperature, initial particle size distribution and kinetic coefficient for nucleation and condensation growth on the formation of new secondary sulfuric acid aerosol. Our model calculations show that the rate-limiting factor for the formation of these secondary aerosols is the amount of the sulfuric acid gaseous molecules available in the atmosphere. (AIP)

• Research Organization: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80303
• OSTI ID: 7236866
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 4:1; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
HUMIDITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
NUCLEATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SOLS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFURIC ACID
URBAN AREAS
VAPOR CONDENSATION