Ice-nucleating properties of glassy organic and organosulfate aerosol

Abstract

The role of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in atmospheric ice nucleation is not well understood, limiting accurate predictions of aerosol indirect effects in global climate simulations. This article details experiments performed to characterize the ice-nucleating properties of proxy SOA. Experimental techniques in conditioning aerosol to glass transition temperatures ( Tg) as low as -70°C using a pre-cooling unit are described. Ice nucleation measurements of proxy organosulfates (i.e., methyl, ethyl, and dodecyl sulfates) and citric acid were performed using the SPectrometer for ice nucleation (SPIN), operating at conditions relevant to upper-tropospheric cirrus temperatures ( -45 °C, -40 °C, -35°C) and ice saturation ratios ( 1.0