Title: Aerosol‐Correlated Cloud Activation for Clean Conditions in the Tropical Atlantic Boundary Layer During LASIC

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters

Abstract Aerosol measurements during the DOE ARM Layered Atlantic Smoke Interactions with Clouds (LASIC) campaign were used to quantify the differences between clean and smoky cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) budgets. Accumulation‐mode particles accounted for ∼70% of CCN at supersaturations <0.3% in clean and smoky conditions. Aitken‐mode particles contributed <20% and sea‐spray‐mode particles <10% at supersaturations <0.3%, but at supersaturations >0.3% Aitken particles contributions increased to 30%–40% of clean CCN. For clean conditions, the Hoppel minimum diameter was correlated to the accumulation‐mode number concentration, indicating aerosol‐correlated cloud activation was controlling the lower diameter cutoff for which particles serve as CCN. For smoky conditions, the contributions of Aitken particles increase and the correlation of cloud activation to accumulation‐mode particles is masked by the lower‐hygroscopicity smoke. These results provide the first multi‐month in situ quantitative constraints on the role of aerosol number size distributions in controlling cloud activation in the tropical Atlantic boundary layer.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Data Center
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Contributing Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL); Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704; SC0021045
OSTI ID:
2284006
Report Number(s):
BNL-225448-2024-JAAM; e2023GL105798
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 51; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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ARM: AOS: aerosol-based meteorology data
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aospsap3w1m.b1
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dataset January 2021
ARM: AOS Dry Nephelometer 1 Minute Averages
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aosccn2colaavg.b1
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dataset January 2016
aosuhsas.a1
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dataset January 2021
Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor, mentor processed, b2
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