The Role of Sulfuric Acid in Atmospheric Nucleation

0341594 - ÚCHP 2011 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Sipilä, M. - Berndt, T. - Petäjä, T. - Brus, David - Vanhanen, J. - Stratmann, F. - Patokoski, J. - Mauldin, III, R.L. - Hyvärinen, A.-P. - Lihavainen, H. - Kulmala, M.
The Role of Sulfuric Acid in Atmospheric Nucleation.
Science. Roč. 327, č. 5970 (2010), s. 1243-1246. ISSN 0036-8075. E-ISSN 1095-9203
Grant - others:EUCAARI(XE) 036833-2
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z40720504
Keywords : nucleation * sulfuric acid * climate
Subject RIV: CF - Physical ; Theoretical Chemistry
Impact factor: 31.377, year: 2010

Nucleation is a fundamental step in atmospheric new-particle formation. However, laboratory experiments on nucleation have systematically failed to demonstrate sulfuric acid particle formation rates as high as those necessary to account for ambient atmospheric concentrations, and the role of sulfuric acid in atmospheric nucleation has remained a mystery. Here, we report measurements of new particles (with diameters of approximately 1.5 nanometers) observed immediately after their formation at atmospherically relevant sulfuric acid concentrations. Furthermore, we show that correlations between measured nucleation rates and sulfuric acid concentrations suggest that freshly formed particles contain one to two sulfuric acid molecules, a number consistent with assumptions that are based on atmospheric observations. Incorporation of these findings into global models should improve the understanding of the impact of secondary particle formation on climate.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0184526