TY - JOUR

T1 - Aerosol nucleation in an ultra-low ion density environment

A1 - Pedersen,Jens Olaf Pepke

A1 - Enghoff,Martin Andreas Bødker

A1 - Paling,Sean M.

A1 - Svensmark,Henrik

AU - Pedersen,Jens Olaf Pepke

AU - Enghoff,Martin Andreas Bødker

AU - Paling,Sean M.

AU - Svensmark,Henrik

PB - Pergamon

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Ion-induced nucleation has been studied in a deep underground ultra-low background radiation environment where the role of ions can be distinguished from alternative neutral aerosol nucleation mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that ions have a significant effect on the production of small sulfuric acid–water clusters over a range of sulfuric acid concentrations although neutral nucleation mechanisms remain evident at low ionization levels. The effect of ions is found both to enhance the nucleation rate of stable clusters and the initial growth rate. The effects of possible contaminations are also discussed and are believed to be small, but cannot be excluded. If our results can be extrapolated to conditions that resemble the clean air atmosphere over the Earth's oceans they suggest that ions may dominate the production of small (4nm) aerosols here.

AB - Ion-induced nucleation has been studied in a deep underground ultra-low background radiation environment where the role of ions can be distinguished from alternative neutral aerosol nucleation mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that ions have a significant effect on the production of small sulfuric acid–water clusters over a range of sulfuric acid concentrations although neutral nucleation mechanisms remain evident at low ionization levels. The effect of ions is found both to enhance the nucleation rate of stable clusters and the initial growth rate. The effects of possible contaminations are also discussed and are believed to be small, but cannot be excluded. If our results can be extrapolated to conditions that resemble the clean air atmosphere over the Earth's oceans they suggest that ions may dominate the production of small (4nm) aerosols here.

KW - Aerosol particles

KW - Atmospheric nucleation

KW - Ion-induced nucleation

KW - Sulfuric acid

KW - Low background

U2 - 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2012.03.003

DO - 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2012.03.003

JO - Journal of Aerosol Science

JF - Journal of Aerosol Science

SN - 0021-8502

VL - 50

SP - 75

EP - 85

ER -