Characteristics of atmospheric aerosol during the anomalous fall of 2005 in the Moscow region

Results are presented of measurements of total concentration and size spectrum of aerosol particles, of ice nuclei, and cloud condensation nuclei concentrations, as obtained during an anomalously arid period in September and October 2005 in the town of Dolgoprudny, Moscow oblast. It is shown that a two-month period of anticyclonic weather, associated with peat fires, caused a 1.5-time increase in the mean number concentration of aerosol at the site. Effects of accumulation of the industrial aerosol from Moscow and of peat bog burning products are different on fractions of particles of different sizes and on cloud-active nuclei. The smoke particles increased concentrations of almost all sizes from 0.042 to 10 μm; urban aerosol makes the greater part of concentration of particles in the middle subm-icron range and causes a significant increase in the concentration of cloud condensation nuclei.