On the efficiency with which aerosol particles of radius less than 1 μm are collected by columnar ice crystals

A theoretical model is presented which allows computing the efficiency with which aerosol particles of 0.001 r1 m are collected by columnar ice crystals in air of various relative humidities, temperatures, and pressures. Particle capture due to Brownian diffusion, thermo- and diffusiophoresis is considered. It is shown that phoretic effects importantly determine the particle capture process of 0.01r1 m. The various pressure-temperature levels studied are found to affect the collection efficiency only ifr>0.1 m. Comparison shows that water drops generally are better aerosol particle scavengers than columnar ice crystals.