黄山地区气溶胶吸湿增长特性数值模拟研究

应用多种化学组分气溶胶的绝热气块分档模式,对2008年春季黄山地区气溶胶吸湿增长特性进行了模拟分析.结果表明:黄山地区气溶胶吸湿增长因子f的大小与粒子半径、相对湿度、粒子化学组分、上升速度及上升高度密切相关,且小粒子吸湿增长比大粒子显著.吸湿增长因子与相对湿度呈正相关,相对湿度越接近粒子的临界饱和比,吸湿增长因子变化越显著.可溶性有机气溶胶,通过增加溶液中溶质的百分比来影响临界饱和比,使吸湿增长因子增大.若不考虑不可溶粒子的成核作用,会高估粒子的吸湿性.随着上升速度增大,吸湿增长因子降低,降低程度与粒子初始高度的相对湿度有关.上升高度通过改变气块相对湿度的变化来影响气溶胶吸湿增长因子.     

Highly Biased Hygroscopicity Derived from Size-Resolved Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activation Ratios without Data Inversion

The impact of aerosols on the climate and atmospheric environment depends on the water uptake ability of particles; namely, hygroscopic growth and acti- vation into cloud condensation nuclei （CCN）. The size-resolved activation ratios （SRAR）, characterizing the fraction of aerosol particles that act as CCN at different particle sizes and supersaturations, can be measured using a combination of differential mobility analyzers （DMA） and particle counters. DMA-based measurements are in- fluenced by the multiply charged particles and the quasi-mono-dispersed particles （effect of DMA transfer function） selected for each prescribed particle size. A theoretical study, assuming different particle number size distributions and hygroscopicity of aerosols, is performed to study the effects of the DMA transfer function and multiple charging on the measured SRAR and the derived hygroscopicity. Results show that the raw SRAR can be significantly skewed and hygroscopicity may be highly biased from the true value if the data are not corrected. The effect of the transfer function is relatively small and depends on the sample to sheath flow ratio. Multiply charged particles, however, can lead to large biases of the SRAR. These results emphasize that the inversion algo- rithm, which is used to correct the effects of the DMA transfer function and multiple charging, is necessary for accurate measurement of the SRAR.     

Role of the volatile fraction of submicron marine aerosol on its hygroscopic properties

The hygroscopic growth factor (HGF) of 85 nm and 20 nm marine aerosol particles was measured during January 2006 for a three-week period within the frame of the EU FP6 project MAP (Marine Aerosol Production) winter campaign at the coastal site of Mace Head, using the TDMA technique. The results are compared to aerosol particles produced in a simulation tank by bubbling air through sea water sampled near the station, and through synthetic sea water (inorganic salts). This simulation is assimilated to primary production. Aitken and mode particles (20 nm) and accumulation mode particles (85 nm) both show HGF of 1.92 and 2.01 for particles generated through bubbling in natural and artificial sea water respectively. In the Aitken mode, the marine particles sampled in the atmosphere shows a monomodal HGF slightly lower than the one measured for sea salt particles artificially produced by bubble bursting in natural sea water (HGF = 1.83). This is also the case for the more hygroscopic mode of accumulation mode particles. In addition, the HGF of 85 nm particles observed in the atmosphere during clean marine sectors exhibits half of its population with a 1.4 HGF. An external mixture of the accumulation mode marine particles indicates a secondary source of this size of particles, a partial processing during transport, or an inhomogeneity of the sea water composition. A gentle 90 °C thermo-desorption results in a significant decrease of the number fraction of moderately hygroscopic (HGF = 1.4) particles in the accumulation mode to the benefit of the seasalt mode, pointing to the presence of semi-volatile compounds with pronounced hydrophobic properties. The thermo-desorption has no effect on the HGF of bubble generated aerosols, neither for synthetic or natural sea water, nor on the atmospheric Aitken mode, indicating that these hydrophobic compounds are secondarily integrated in the particulate phase. No difference between night and day samples is observed on the natural marine aerosols regarding hygroscopicity, but a more pronounced sensitivity to volatilization of the 1.4 HGF mode in the accumulation mode is observed during the day.     

黄山夏季气溶胶多尺度吸湿性的参数化方案构建研究

利用2014年7月在黄山光明顶观测的气溶胶吸湿性参数（κ）和气溶胶离子化学组分、有机碳（OC,organic carbon）数据,对多尺度气溶胶吸湿性参数进行分析,并在此基础上建立了多尺度κ的参数化方案。研究结果表明,影响黄山夏季气溶胶来源的主要气团包括西南气团、北方气团以及东南气团。黄山夏季κ的变化范围为0.2-0.48,且随粒径增大成先增大后减小的分布特征;气溶胶粒径在0.15-1.1 μm的强吸湿段,κ>0.3,而在粒径小于0.15 μm和粒径大于1.1 μm弱吸湿段,κκ分布不同,气溶胶粒子在小于1.1 μm的粒径段,当受西南气团影响时,κ值最大,而受东南气团影响时,κ值最小;在气溶胶粒径大于1.1 μm时,κ在两个气团背景下呈现与气溶胶粒径小于1.1 μm时相反的分布特征。影响粒径小于1.1 μm气溶胶吸湿能力的主要水溶性化学组分为NH4+、SO42-、水溶性有机碳（WSOC,water soluble organic carbon）,而影响大于1.1 μm粒径范围气溶胶吸湿能力的主要水溶性化学组分为NH4+、SO42-、NO3-、WSOC和Ca2+。由气溶胶多尺度离子化学组分和WSOC构建的气溶胶κ的参数化方案,在小于1.1 μm和大于1.1 μm的粒径范围内的表达式分别为κreg=0.12+0.45fNH4++0.63fSO42-+0.18fWSOC和κreg=0.01+0.78fNH4++0.76fNO3-+0.8fSO42--0.28fCa2++0.14fWSOC（f为对应组分的质量份数）。两个参数化方案均能较好地预报κ,预报值κreg与κ的计算值间存在较好的相关关系,相关系数通过了置信度99%的显著性检验,且预报误差在30%范围内。      

Effects of inorganic seed aerosols on the growth and chemical composition of secondary organic aerosol formed from OH-initiated oxidation of toluene

(NH₄)₂SO₄, CaCl₂, Na₂SiO₃ and NaNO₃ were selected as surrogates of inorganic seed aerosols of ambient atmosphere of Chinese urban areas, respectively, to study their effects on the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the toluene/CH₃ONO/NO_x photooxidation system. The SMPS and aerosol laser time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ALTOFMS) was used to measure the aerodynamic size and chemical composition of individual SOA particles in real-time. Experimental results indicate that either the growth or products of SOA is affected by the presence of inorganic seed aerosol. Inorganic seed aerosols would promote growth rates of SOA formation at the start of the reaction and inhibits its formation rate with prolonging the reaction time. In the case of about 100 μg m^?3 seed aerosol load, the addition of Na₂SiO₃ induced a same growth rate of SOA formation as NaNO₃. The influence of four individual seed aerosols on the generation of SOA decreased in the order of CaCl₂ > (NH₄)₂SO₄ > NaNO₃, Na₂SiO₃. The presence of Na₂SiO₃ or NaNO₃ has no obvious effect on the growth rates of SOA formation, but it does increase the yield of organic acid and nitrogen-containing organic compounds, respectively. Besides the significantly effect on the growth rate of SOA formation, the presence of CaCl₂ or (NH₄)₂SO₄ can lead to the formation of high-molecular weight species which is found to be positively correlated with the hygroscopic behavior of seed aerosols. The CaCl₂ shows the strongest hygroscopic behavior among the four individual seed aerosols, and the most significant promotion effect on the formation of the high-molecular weight species. It is proposed that the SOA generation enhancement and high-molecular weight products are achieved by particle-phase heterogeneous reactions induced and catalyzed by the acidity of CaCl₂ and (NH₄)₂SO₄ seed aerosols.     

State of mixing, shape factor, number size distribution, and hygroscopic growth of the Saharan anthropogenic and mineral dust aerosol at Tinfou, Morocco

The Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment (SAMUM) was conducted in May and June 2006 in Tinfou, Morocco. A H-TDMA system and a H-DMA-APS system were used to obtain hygroscopic properties of mineral dust particles at 85% RH. Dynamic shape factors of 1.11, 1.19 and 1.25 were determined for the volume equivalent diameters 720, 840 and 960 nm, respectively.
During a dust event, the hydrophobic number fraction of 250 and 350 nm particles increased significantly from 30 and 65% to 53 and 75%, respectively, indicating that mineral dust particles can be as small as 200 nm in diameter. Log-normal functions for mineral dust number size distributions were obtained from total particle number size distributions and fractions of hydrophobic particles. The geometric mean diameter for Saharan dust particles was 715 nm during the dust event and 570 nm for the Saharan background aerosol.
Measurements of hygroscopic growth showed that the Saharan aerosol consists of an anthropogenic fraction (predominantly non natural sulphate and carbonaceous particles) and of mineral dust particles. Hygroscopic growth and hysteresis curve measurements of the 'more' hygroscopic particle fraction indicated ammonium sulphate as a main component of the anthropogenic aerosol. Particles larger than 720 nm in diameter were completely hydrophobic meaning that mineral dust particles are not hygroscopic.     

南京一次重霾天气纳米气溶胶观测研究

为加深对南京地区重霾天气过程纳米尺度气溶胶物理特征的了解,对2017年12月21—25日的一次重霾天气过程进行了综合探测,利用宽范围粒径谱仪观测了此次过程中10～1 000 nm颗粒物数浓度,并结合能见度等气象要素,对重霾期间纳米气溶胶谱分布进行了分析。结果表明:此次霾重污染过程出现在低温、高湿、气压上升期间;与非重污染时期相比,重污染期间N_(10-20)与N_(20-100)降低,N_(100-1000)升高;重污染期间气溶胶粒子平均数浓度为17 035个/cm~3,低于非重污染期间粒子数浓度,N_(100-1000)占总数浓度的55.05%;重霾发生期间纳米气溶胶数浓度谱为单峰结构,峰值在100 nm附近,随着污染加重,纳米气溶胶峰值粒径向大粒径偏移,粒子向大粒径段集中;不同温度对不同粒径粒子数浓度的影响不同,20～100 nm粒径段气溶胶与数浓度与温度呈反相关性,100～500 nm粒子数浓度与温度呈正相关性.     

Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentration in the Brazilian northeast semi-arid region: the influence of local circulation

Ground-based aerosol instrumentation covering particle size diameters from 25 nm to 32 µm was deployed to determine aerosol concentration and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)-activation properties at water vapor supersaturations in the range of S = 0.20–1.50 % in the remote Brazilian northeast semi-arid region (NEB) in coastal (maritime) and continental (inland) regimes. The instruments measured aerosol number concentration and activation spectra for CCN and revealed that aerosol properties are sensitive with respect to the sources as a function of the local wind circulation system. The observations show that coastal aerosol total number concentrations are above 3,000 cm^?3 on average, exhibiting concentration peaks depending on the time of the day in a consistent daily pattern. The variation on aerosol concentration has also influences on the fraction of particles active as CCN. At 1.0 % water vapor supersaturation, the fraction can reach as high as 80 %. Inland aerosol total concentrations were about 1,800–1,900 cm^?3 and did not show much diurnal variation. The fraction of particles active as CCN observed inland depend on the history of the air masses, and was much higher when air masses were originated over the sea. It was found that (NH₄)₂SO₄ and NaCl are the major soluble inorganic fraction of the aerosols at the coast. The major fraction of NaCl was present in the coarse mode, while ammonium sulfate dominates the inorganic fraction at the submicron range, with about 10 % of the total aerosol mass at 0.32 µm. Inorganic compounds are almost absent in particles with sizes around 0.1 μm. The study suggests that the air masses with high concentration of CCN originate at the sea. The feasible explanation lies in the fact that the NEB’s beaches have a particular morphology that produces a wide surf zone and creates a large load of aerosols when combined with strong and permanent winds of the region.     

Particle size dependent response of aerosol counters

During an international workshop at the Institute for Experimental Physics of the University of Vienna, Austria, which was coordinated within the Committee on Nucleation and Atmospheric Aerosols (IAMAS-IUGG), 10 instruments for aerosol number concentration measurement were studied, covering a wide range of methods based on various different measuring principles. In order to investigate the detection limits of the instruments considered with respect to particle size, simultaneous number concentration measurements were performed for monodispersed aerosols with particle sizes ranging from 1.5 to 50 nm diameter and various compositions.The instruments considered show quite different response characteristics, apparently related to the different vapors used in the various counters to enlarge the particles to an optically detectable size. A strong dependence of the 50% cutoff diameter on the particle composition in correlation with the type of vapor used in the specific instrument was found. An enhanced detection efficiency for ultrafine hygroscopic sodium chloride aerosols was observed with water operated systems, an analogous trend was found for n-butanol operated systems with nonhygroscopic silver and tungsten oxide particles.     

中国超大城市综合实验:京、沪、穗气溶胶理化和吸湿特性

气溶胶对环境、气象和人体健康都有较大影响,这些影响与气溶胶理化特性(粒子尺度谱、化学组分、混合状态等)密切相关。为了深入研究气溶胶的环境和气候效应,发展了一套气溶胶在线综合观测系统。本文介绍了利用该系统在北京、上海、广州三个超大城市开展的综合观测实验结果。通过对比分析发现,广州气溶胶数浓度最高,其粒子尺度谱分布特征与北京特征相似,均以核模态为主,上海气溶胶数浓度则整体较低。对比三个超大城市的新粒子生成(New Particle Formation,NPF)特征发现,北京NPF的发生频率低于广州,主要由于北京地区大气中大粒径气溶胶更多,较高的碰并汇抑制了NPF的发生和发展。研究发现,观测期间北京和上海站点气溶胶的吸湿性强于广州,人为一次性排放气溶胶吸湿性较弱。气溶胶吸湿性日变化特征与人为活动、气溶胶老化程度密切相关。此外,三个超大城市中气溶胶光吸收系数的日变化特征存在明显差别,北京站点的气溶胶吸收系数呈现白天高、夜间低的特点,而广州站点气溶胶的吸收系数呈现相反的日变化趋势,这可能是由观测站周边的环境差异及大气边界层的变化特征差异造成的。     

Hygroscopic behavior of aerosol particles from biomass fires using environmental transmission electron microscopy

We used both a conventional transmission electron microscope and an environmental transmission electron microscope (ETEM) to determine morphology, composition, and water uptake of 80 individual aerosol particles collected from the young smoke of flaming and smoldering fires during SAFARI-2000, a comprehensive air quality campaign in southern Africa. Six representative carbonaceous particle types are described, including soot, tar balls, and heterogeneously internally mixed particles containing C with S-, K-, Mg- or Na-rich inorganic phases. The hygroscopic behavior of these particles over the range 0–100% relative humidity (RH) was studied in detail. Soot and tar balls did not take up water, whereas the mixed organic–inorganic particles took up water between 55 and 100% RH, the exact value depending on the composition of their water-soluble phases. The inorganic phase appeared to determine the hygroscopic properties of all mixed organic–inorganic particles. Thus, incorporation of inorganic plant material or reactions with inorganic atmospheric components can dramatically alter the hygroscopic properties of carbonaceous particles in smoke plumes. The fraction of these mixed organic–inorganic particles plausibly increases with time, which will modulate the effects of smoke on radiative budgets.     

A closure study of sub-micrometer aerosol particle hygroscopic behaviour

The hygroscopic properties of sub-micrometer aerosol particles were studied in connection with a ground-based cloud experiment at Great Dun Fell, in northern England in 1995. Hygroscopic diameter growth factors were measured with a Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser (TDMA) for dry particle diameters between 35 and 265 nm at one of the sites upwind of the orographic cloud. An external mixture consisting of three groups of particles, each with different hygroscopic properties, was observed. These particle groups were denoted less-hygroscopic, more-hygroscopic and sea spray particles and had average diameter growth factors of 1.11–1.15, 1.38–1.69 and 2.08–2.21 respectively when taken from a dry state to a relative humidity of 90%. Average growth factors increased with dry particle size. A bimodal hygroscopic behaviour was observed for 74–87% of the cases depending on particle size. Parallel measurements of dry sub-micrometer particle number size distributions were performed with a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS). The inorganic ion aerosol composition was determined by means of ion chromatography analysis of samples collected with Berner-type low pressure cascade impactors at ambient conditions. The number of ions collected on each impactor stage was predicted from the size distribution and hygroscopic growth data by means of a model of hygroscopic behaviour assuming that only the inorganic substances interacted with the ambient water vapour. The predicted ion number concentration was compared with the actual number of all positive and negative ions collected on the various impactor stages. For the impactor stage which collected particles with aerodynamic diameters between 0.17–0.53 μm at ambient relative humidity, and for which all pertinent data was available for the hygroscopic closure study, the predicted ion concentrations agreed with the measured values within the combined measurement and model uncertainties for all cases but one. For this impactor sampling occasion, the predicted ion concentration was significantly higher than the measured. The air mass in which this sample was taken had undergone extensive photochemical activity which had probably produced hygroscopically active material other than inorganic ions, such as organic oxygenated substances.     

基于航测的云底气溶胶活化率与过饱和度估算

2016年11月13日在北京地区上空存在持续稳定的层状云天气背景下,利用飞机开展气溶胶粒径谱、化学组成、云滴谱等参量的垂直观测,研究该个例云底气溶胶的活化能力。结果表明:探测期间北京地区为轻度污染天气,地面气溶胶浓度(0.11~3 μm)达到4600 cm-3。云层高度为800~1200 m,云底气溶胶数浓度相对于近地面大幅度降低,有效粒径显著增大(0.3~0.6 μm)。同时,近地面气溶胶中疏水性的一次有机气溶胶贡献显著,而云底气溶胶中一次有机气溶胶的贡献大幅降低,无机组分和二次有机气溶胶的贡献明显增大,造成吸湿性参数κ由0.25(地面)增大至0.32(云底)。云中气溶胶和云滴的谱分布衔接较好,且两者的数浓度之和与云底气溶胶浓度一致,可分别代表未活化和已活化的粒子。基于云底气溶胶粒径谱和吸湿性参数计算得到不同过饱和比下云凝结核的活化率,通过与云中观测结果对比,反推得到云底过饱和度约为0.048%。     

南京地区气溶胶谱分布的湿度相关性分析和等效复折射率预测

通过实验收集大气颗粒物，对南京地区大气气溶胶谱分布进行了描述，对气溶胶分布与相对湿度的相关性进行了探讨。建立了南京地区7—11月气溶胶化学组分的月平均模型，得出气溶胶等效复折射率的预测方法。结果表明：南京地区的大气气溶胶颗粒物，峰值粒径在80~100 nm范围，属于典型的城市型气溶胶。数浓度与相对湿度的相关性与季节和粒径大小有关，在6—9月，相对湿度与细粒子数浓度呈负相关，与粗粒子呈正相关，在10—11月相反，且易受极端天气影响。建立的干气溶胶等效复折射率月平均模型，结合湿度修正模型得到某一日的复折射率，与AERONET站点数据进行了对比，结果较为一致，误差范围在0~0.03。     

Below-cloud rain scavenging of atmospheric aerosols for aerosol deposition models

Below-cloud aerosol scavenging is generally estimated from field measurements using advanced instruments that measure changes in aerosol distributions with respect to rainfall. In this study, we discuss various scavenging mechanisms and scavenging coefficients from past laboratory and field measurements. Scavenging coefficients derived from field measurements (representing natural aerosols scavenging) are two orders higher than that of theoretical ones for smaller particles (D_p < 2 μm). Measured size-resolved scavenging coefficients can be served as a better option to the default scavenging coefficient (e.g. a constant of 10^?4 s^?1 for all size of aerosols, as used in the CALPUFF model) for representing below-cloud aerosol scavenging. We propose scavenging correction parameter (C_R) as an exponential function of size-resolved scavenging coefficients, winds and width in the downwind of the source–receptor system. For a wind speed of 3 m s^?1, C_R decrease with the width in the downwind for particles of diameters D_p < 0.1 μm but C_R does not vary much for particles in the accumulation mode (0.1 < D_p < 2 μm). For a typical urban aerosol distribution, assuming 3 m s^?1 air-flow in the source–receptor system, 10 km downwind width, 2.84 mm h^?1 of rainfall and using aerosol size dependent scavenging coefficients in the C_R, scavenging of aerosols is found to be 16% in number and 24% in volume of total aerosols. Using the default scavenging coefficient (10^?4 s^?1) in the CALPUFF model, it is found to be 64% in both number and volume of total aerosols.     

Aerosol Hygroscopicity during the Haze Red-Alert Period in December 2016 at a Rural Site of the North China Plain

A humidification system was deployed to measure aerosol hygroscopicity at a rural site of the North China Plain during the haze red-alert period 17–22 December 2016. The aerosol scattering coefficients under dry [relative humidity (RH) < 30%] and wet (RH in the range of 40%–85%) conditions were simultaneously measured at wavelengths of 450, 550, and 700 nm. It is found that the aerosol scattering coefficient and backscattering coefficient increased by only 29% and 10%, respectively when RH went up from 40% to 80%, while the hemispheric backscatter fraction went down by 14%, implying that the aerosol hygroscopicity represented by the aerosol scattering enhancement factor f(RH) is relatively low and RH exerted little effects on the aerosol light scattering in this case. The scattering enhancement factors do not show significant differences at the three wavelengths, only with an approximate 2% variation, suggesting that the aerosol hygroscopicity is independent of the wavelength. Aerosol hygroscopicity is highly dependent on the aerosol chemical composition. When there is a large mass fraction of inorganics and a small mass fraction of organic matter, f(RH) reaches a high value. The fraction of NO₃^– was strongly correlated with the aerosol scattering coefficient at RH = 80%, which suggests that NO₃^– played an important role in aerosol hygroscopic growth during the heavy pollution period.     

2008年北京奥运会期间大气气溶胶物理特征分析

应用MODIS卫星的气溶胶产品资料和地面的光学粒子计数器的资料,对比分析了北京地区2006、2007、2008年7～9月的气溶胶光学厚度、细粒子光学厚度、Angstrom指数、气溶胶粒子数浓度谱及体积谱,发现2008年北京奥运会期间(7月20日～9月20日)的气溶胶光学厚度比2006、2007年同期明显降低,气溶胶细模态光学厚度占总光学厚度的比上升,Angstrom指数上升,气溶胶细粒子数浓度没有明显相对变化,而粗粒子数浓度则减少约50%.利用大气标高,将MODIS反演的气溶胶柱的质量浓度转化为地面气溶胶质量浓度.用粒子计数器得到的体积谱,在假定气溶胶粒子密度的情况下,计算出其质量浓度.将这两种方法得到的气溶胶质量浓度与国家环境保护部公布的空气质量指数换算得到的可吸入颗粒物(PM10)质量浓度进行比较.结果表明:北京奥运期间空气质量总体达到了国家二级空气质量标准;与2006、2007年同期相比,2008年气溶胶PM10质量浓度明显下降,而这主要是由气溶胶粗粒子的减少引起的.     

Diffusion aerosol spectrometer

The diffusion aerosol spectrometer for the measurements of particle size spectra and concentration levels is described. It includes three principal parts: (i) a block of diffusion batteries for measuring the particles, whose size does not exceed 0.15 μm, (ii) the particle amplifier for growing the particles passing through the diffusion batteries up to optically distinguishable sizes and (iii) the laser aerosol spectrometer, which counts the amplified particles and may also serve for independent measurements of particle size spectra within submicron size range. The tandem including: diffusion batteries+laser aerosol spectrometer allows for detecting particles of radius >3 nm at maximal concentration up to 2×10⁴ particles/cm³. The tandem is managed either by PC or manually. The instrument is designed for studying aerosols in the atmosphere and for ecological measurements.     

Hygroscopic growth of aerosol particles and its influence on nucleation scavenging in cloud: Experimental results from Kleiner Feldberg

The hygroscopic growth of individual aerosol particles has been measured with a Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser. The hygroscopic growth spectra were analysed in terms of diameter change with increasing RH from 20% to 85%. The measurements were carried out during the GCE cloud experiment at Kleiner Feldberg, Taunus, Germany in October and November 1990.Two groups of particles with different hygroscopic growth were observed. The less-hygroscopic group had average growth factors of 1.11, 1.04 and 1.02 for particle diameters of 50, 150 and 300 nm, respectively. The more-hygroscopic group had average growth factors of 1.34, 1.34, and 1.37 for the same particle diameters. The average fraction of less-hygroscopic particles was about 50%. Estimates of the soluble fractions of the particles belonging to the two groups are reported.Hygroscopic growth spectra for total aerosol, interstitial aerosol and cloud drop residuals were measured. A comparison of these hygroscopic growths of individual aerosol particles provides clear evidence for the importance of hygroscopic growth in nucleation scavenging. The measured scavenged fraction of particles as a function of diameter can be explained by the hygroscopic growth spectra.     

Observed changes in aerosol physical and optical properties before and after precipitation events

Precipitation scavenging of aerosol particles is an important removal process in the atmosphere that can change aerosol physical and optical properties. This paper analyzes the changes in aerosol physical and optical properties before and after four rain events using in situ observations of mass concentration, number concentration, particle size distribution, scattering and absorption coefficients of aerosols in June and July 2013 at the Xianghe comprehensive atmospheric observation station in China. The results show the effect of rain scavenging is related to the rain intensity and duration, the wind speed and direction. During the rain events, the temporal variation of aerosol number concentration was consistent with the variation in mass concentration, but their size-resolved scavenging ratios were different. After the rain events, the increase in aerosol mass concentration began with an increase in particles with diameter 0.8 μm [measured using an aerodynamic particle sizer(APS)], and fine particles with diameter 0.1 μm [measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer(SMPS)]. Rainfall was most efficient at removing particles with diameter ～0.6 μm and greater than 3.5 μm. The changes in peak values of the particle number distribution(measured using the SMPS) before and after the rain events reflect the strong scavenging effect on particles within the 100–120 nm size range. The variation patterns of aerosol scattering and absorption coefficients before and after the rain events were similar, but their scavenging ratios differed, which may have been related to the aerosol particle size distribution and chemical composition.