An atmospheric particle formation event at the research site Melpitz, May 19, 2012. (Image: Ma/TROPOS)
Particle Nucleation: Field experiments
Nucleation of aerosol particles from gaseous precursors is a major source of new particle number concentration in the earth's atmosphere.
New particle formation is observed practically everywhere in the atmosphere. A main production mechanism is the nucleation of sulfuric acid and water to stable molecular clusters. Current research is dedicated to elucidate additional species inolved in particle nucleation and growth.
TROPOS examines new particle formation by using the following instrumentation in the field:
- TSMPS (Twin Differential Mobility Particle Sizer)
- NAIS (Neutral Cluster and Air Ion Spectrometer)
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- Ma and Birmili (2015) Quantifying photochemical particle formation in an urban atmosphere
- Birmili et al. (2013) New particle formation as a regional meteorological phenomenon
- Hamed et al. (2010) New particle formation and SO2 in Melpitz: Trends 1996-2006
- Manninen et al. (2010) Neutral Cluster and Air Ion Spectrometer measurements in Europa