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Calibration and measurement uncertainties of a continuous-flow cloud condensation nuclei counter (DMT-CCNC): CCN activation of ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride aerosol particles in theory and experiment

Rose, Diana ; Gunthe, Sachin ; Mikhailov, E. ; Frank, Göran LU orcid ; Dusek, Ulrike ; Andreae, Meinrat O. and Pöschl, Ulrich (2008) In Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 8(5). p.1153-1179
Abstract
Experimental and theoretical uncertainties in the measurement of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) with a continuous-flow thermal-gradient CCN counter from Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT-CCNC) have been assessed by model calculations and calibration experiments with ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride aerosol particles in the diameter range of 20–220 nm. Experiments have been performed in the laboratory and during field measurement campaigns, covering a wide range of instrument operating conditions (650–1020 hPa pressure, 293–303 K inlet temperature, 4–34 K m−1 temperature gradient, 0.5–1.0 L min−1 flow rate). For each set of conditions, the effective water vapor supersaturation (Seff, 0.05–1.4%) was determined from the measured CCN... (More)
Experimental and theoretical uncertainties in the measurement of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) with a continuous-flow thermal-gradient CCN counter from Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT-CCNC) have been assessed by model calculations and calibration experiments with ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride aerosol particles in the diameter range of 20–220 nm. Experiments have been performed in the laboratory and during field measurement campaigns, covering a wide range of instrument operating conditions (650–1020 hPa pressure, 293–303 K inlet temperature, 4–34 K m−1 temperature gradient, 0.5–1.0 L min−1 flow rate). For each set of conditions, the effective water vapor supersaturation (Seff, 0.05–1.4%) was determined from the measured CCN activation spectra (dry particle activation diameters) and Köhler model calculations. High measurement precision was achieved under stable laboratory conditions, where the relative standard deviations of Seff were as low as ±1%. During field measurements, however, the relative deviations increased to about ±5%, which can be mostly attributed to variations of the CCNC column top temperature with ambient temperature. The observed dependence of Seff on temperature, pressure, and flow rate was compared to the CCNC flow model of Lance et al. (2006). At high Seff the relative deviations between flow model and experimental results were mostly less than 10%, but at Seff≤0.1% they exceeded 40%. Thus, careful experimental calibration is required for high-accuracy CCN measurements – especially at low Seff. A comprehensive comparison and uncertainty analysis of the various Köhler models and thermodynamic parameterizations commonly used in CCN studies showed that the relative deviations between different approaches are as high as 25% for (NH4)2SO4 and 12% for NaCl. The deviations were mostly caused by the different parameterizations for the activity of water in aqueous solutions of the two salts. To ensure comparability of results, we suggest that CCN studies should always report exactly which Köhler model equations and parameters were used. Provided that the Aerosol Inorganics Model (AIM) can be regarded as an accurate source of water activity data for highly dilute solutions of (NH4)2SO4 and NaCl, only Köhler models that are based on the AIM or yield similar results should be used in CCN studies involving these salts and aiming at high accuracy. Experiments with (NH4)2SO4 and NaCl aerosols showed that the conditions of particle generation and the shape and microstructure of NaCl particles are critical for their application in CCN activation experiments (relative deviations up to 18%). (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter, Aerosol, CCN counter, CCN, Cloud Condensation Nuclei
in
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
volume
8
issue
5
pages
1153 - 1179
publisher
Copernicus GmbH
external identifiers
  • scopus:40149088819
ISSN
1680-7324
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Nuclear Physics (Faculty of Technology) (011013007)
id
49e88e42-7700-4e96-8c0a-5dbbf439611d (old id 1041245)
alternative location
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/1153/2008/acp-8-1153-2008.html
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:40:58
date last changed
2022-05-25 20:23:46
@article{49e88e42-7700-4e96-8c0a-5dbbf439611d,
  abstract     = {{Experimental and theoretical uncertainties in the measurement of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) with a continuous-flow thermal-gradient CCN counter from Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT-CCNC) have been assessed by model calculations and calibration experiments with ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride aerosol particles in the diameter range of 20–220 nm. Experiments have been performed in the laboratory and during field measurement campaigns, covering a wide range of instrument operating conditions (650–1020 hPa pressure, 293–303 K inlet temperature, 4–34 K m−1 temperature gradient, 0.5–1.0 L min−1 flow rate). For each set of conditions, the effective water vapor supersaturation (Seff, 0.05–1.4%) was determined from the measured CCN activation spectra (dry particle activation diameters) and Köhler model calculations. High measurement precision was achieved under stable laboratory conditions, where the relative standard deviations of Seff were as low as ±1%. During field measurements, however, the relative deviations increased to about ±5%, which can be mostly attributed to variations of the CCNC column top temperature with ambient temperature. The observed dependence of Seff on temperature, pressure, and flow rate was compared to the CCNC flow model of Lance et al. (2006). At high Seff the relative deviations between flow model and experimental results were mostly less than 10%, but at Seff≤0.1% they exceeded 40%. Thus, careful experimental calibration is required for high-accuracy CCN measurements – especially at low Seff. A comprehensive comparison and uncertainty analysis of the various Köhler models and thermodynamic parameterizations commonly used in CCN studies showed that the relative deviations between different approaches are as high as 25% for (NH4)2SO4 and 12% for NaCl. The deviations were mostly caused by the different parameterizations for the activity of water in aqueous solutions of the two salts. To ensure comparability of results, we suggest that CCN studies should always report exactly which Köhler model equations and parameters were used. Provided that the Aerosol Inorganics Model (AIM) can be regarded as an accurate source of water activity data for highly dilute solutions of (NH4)2SO4 and NaCl, only Köhler models that are based on the AIM or yield similar results should be used in CCN studies involving these salts and aiming at high accuracy. Experiments with (NH4)2SO4 and NaCl aerosols showed that the conditions of particle generation and the shape and microstructure of NaCl particles are critical for their application in CCN activation experiments (relative deviations up to 18%).}},
  author       = {{Rose, Diana and Gunthe, Sachin and Mikhailov, E. and Frank, Göran and Dusek, Ulrike and Andreae, Meinrat O. and Pöschl, Ulrich}},
  issn         = {{1680-7324}},
  keywords     = {{Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter; Aerosol; CCN counter; CCN; Cloud Condensation Nuclei}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1153--1179}},
  publisher    = {{Copernicus GmbH}},
  series       = {{Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics}},
  title        = {{Calibration and measurement uncertainties of a continuous-flow cloud condensation nuclei counter (DMT-CCNC): CCN activation of ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride aerosol particles in theory and experiment}},
  url          = {{http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/1153/2008/acp-8-1153-2008.html}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}