A simple non-linear analytical relationship between aerosol accumulation number and sub-micron volume, explaining their observed ratio in the clean and polluted marine boundary layer

Rita Van Dingenen; Aki O. Virkkula; Frank Raes; Timothy S. Bates; Alfred Wiedensohler

doi:10.3402/tellusb.v52i2.16171

A simple non-linear analytical relationship between aerosol accumulation number and sub-micron volume, explaining their observed ratio in the clean and polluted marine boundary layer

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

Volume 52 (2000): Issue 2

By: Rita Van Dingenen, Aki O. Virkkula, Frank Raes, Timothy S. Bates and Alfred Wiedensohler

Open Access

|Jan 2000

Abstract

We propose an analytical expression for the relation between aerosol accumulation number and sub-micron volume over the marine boundary layer (MBL), based on a simple balance equation. By providing appropriate source and sink terms which account for entrainment, coagulation, in-cloud scavenging and condensational growth, the model is able to reproduce the observed ratio between MBL particles larger than 80 nm diameter (as a proxy for accumulation mode number) and submicron aerosol volume, from freshly polluted to background conditions. Entrainment and coagulation are essential in predicting the observed ratio. Budget and lifetime calculations show that, due to relatively low source rates of oceanic non-sea-salt-sulfate and sea-salt, the anthropogenic signature in aerosol volume remains significant even after 8 days of MBL transport.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v52i2.16171 | Journal eISSN: 1600-0889

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Language: English

Page range: 439 - 451

Submitted on: May 19, 1999

Accepted on: Sep 13, 1999

Published on: Jan 1, 2000

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 2000 Rita Van Dingenen, Aki O. Virkkula, Frank Raes, Timothy S. Bates, Alfred Wiedensohler, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 52 (2000): Issue 2