Single Particle Laser Mass Spectrometry Applied to Differential Ice Nucleation Experiments at the AIDA Chamber

Journal Article · Tue Aug 26 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Aerosol Science and Technology, 42(9):773-791

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/02786820802339538· OSTI ID:939585

Gallavardin, S J; Froyd, Karl D; Lohmann, U; Moehler, Ottmar; Murphy, Daniel M; Cziczo, Dan

Experiments conducted at the Aerosol Interactions and Dynamics in the Atmosphere (AIDA) chamber located in Karlsruhe, Germany permit investigation of particle properties that affect the nucleation of ice at temperature and water vapor conditions relevant to cloud microphysics and climate issues. Ice clouds were generated by heterogeneous nucleation of Arizona test dust (ATD), illite, and hematite and homogeneous nucleation of sulfuric acid. Ice crystals formed in the chamber were inertially separated from unactivated, or ‘interstitial’ aerosol particles with a pumped counterflow virtual impactor (PCVI), then evaporated. The ice residue (i.e., the aerosol which initiated ice nucleation plus any material which was scavenged from the gas- and/or particle-phase), was chemically characterized at the single particle level using a laser ionization mass spectrometer. In this manner the species that first nucleated ice could be identified out of a mixed aerosol population in the chamber. Bare mineral dust particles were more effective ice nuclei (IN) than similar particles with a coating. Metallic particles from contamination in the chamber initiated ice nucleation before other species but there were few enough that they did not compromise the experiments. Nitrate, sulfate, and organics were often detected on particles and ice residue, evidently from scavenging of trace gas-phase species in the chamber. Hematite was a more effective ice nucleus than illite. Ice residue was frequently larger than unactivated test aerosol due to the formation of aggregates due to scavenging, condensation of contaminant gases, and the predominance of larger aerosol in nucleation.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 939585
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-58855
• Journal Information: Aerosol Science and Technology, 42(9):773-791, Journal Name: Aerosol Science and Technology, 42(9):773-791 Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 42; ISSN 0278-6826; ISSN ASTYDQ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
AEROSOLS
CLIMATES
CLOUDS
CONTAMINATION
DUSTS
GASES
HEMATITE
ILLITE
IONIZATION
LASERS
MASS SPECTROMETERS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
NUCLEATION
NUCLEI
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
RESIDUES
SCAVENGING
SULFURIC ACID
WATER VAPOR