In 2006, Dusek et al. published a now well-cited article in Science titled �Size Matters More Than Chemistry for Cloud-Nucleating Ability of Aerosol Particles�. In this paper they showed that variability in particle size contributes to more variability in cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations than does variability in particle composition, and thus particle size is more important for aerosol-cloud-climate interactions. Taking the title of this paper at face value gives the impression that chemistry is of secondary importance to size for CCN and aerosol-cloud-climate interactions. However, gas-phase and condensed-phase chemistry are very important for determining aerosol size in the atmosphere. Thus chemistry is, in fact, of primary importance to CCN and aerosol-cloud-climate effects. In this talk, I will review recent work by my group and others that show how the particle size distribution, CCN concentrations and aerosol-cloud-climate effects are sensitive to several uncertain chemical properties/processes in the atmosphere, which include the amount and volatility of SOA and the phase of SOA and SO42- production (gas vs. condensed phase).

Why chemistry matters for aerosol size and aerosol-cloud-climate interactions: Where do aerosol-climate researchers need help from chemists?

248th National Meeting (2014)

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