Insoluble atmospheric aerosol, such as mineral dust, has been identified as an important contributor to the cloud droplet number concentration and indirect climate effect.  However, experimentally-determined Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) water adsorption parameters remain the largest source of uncertainty in assessing the effect of insoluble aerosol on climate.  Recent studies have suggested that surface structure and porosity may be the cause of current disagreements in the literature between FHH parameters measured from water adsorption measurements below 100% RH and experimental cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation measurements under supersaturated conditions.  Based on work begun as a post-doctoral fellow in Dr. Grassian’s research group, results probing the effect of surface structure of insoluble particles on the application of FHH activation theory (FHH-AT) will be reported.  Specifically, model insoluble systems are studied with respect to water adsorption and CCN activation in an effort to improve experimental agreement and accuracy of FHH parameters used to model the indirect effect of insoluble atmospheric aerosols.

From calcite to nanospheres: Closing the surface gap between cloud condensation nuclei activity and water adsorption

2019 Fall National Meeting

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