Condensation Sink Efficiency of Atmospheric Particles Regulated by Their Chemical Compositions and Hygroscopicity
Abstract
Abstract Condensation sink (CS) from atmospheric pre-existing particles is a crucial limiting factor for the occurrence of new particle formation (NPF). However, intense NPF events occur frequently in polluted urban areas despite high CS levels. Here, to address this discrepancy, we introduce an efficiency coefficient ε (ε = CSeff/CScal) to quantify the CS efficiency of pre-existing particles toward gaseous H2SO4, where CScal was calculated under the assumption of irreversible uptake. Results demonstrate that ε strongly depends on hygroscopicity and chemical compositions of particles. Under dry conditions, the ε of pure organic particles was less than that of pure inorganic particles, but high humidity increased ε for both. For mixed organic-inorganic particles, the ε was adjusted together by particle chemical compositions and humidity. Exploratory measurements further revealed a decline in CS efficiency for gaseous HIO3. Incorporating ε into field data and models improves cluster survival predictions and sub-3-nm particle formation simulations, potentially explaining the NPF mystery in megacities under high CS and leading to more accurate modeling of NPF impacts.
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Authors: Jiayi Zhou, Lei Yao, Kaiqi Lai, Chenxi Li, Runlong Cai, Chuang Li, Ning Wang, Qiaodi Lu, Cong An, Jiaping Wang, Yi-Xiang Wang, Wei Du, Jingyu An, Rongjie Zhang, Liu Y, Hong‐Bin Xie, Mingyi Wang, Hugh Coe, Douglas R. Worsnop, Markku Kulmala, Lin Wang
Institutions: University of Chicago, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fudan University, University of Helsinki, University of Manchester, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Nanjing University, Dalian University of Technology, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Aerodyne Research, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security