Atmospheric aerosol formation and its growth during the cold season in India

Abstract

The effects of molecular diffusivity of H2SO4 and NH3 vapours on nucleated particles of SO2-4 and NO-3 species are reported. Condensation sink and source rate of H2SO4 and NH3 vapours, growth rates and ratios of real to apparent nucleation rates are calculated for SO2-4 and NO2-3 aerosols using fractional contributions of them in total aerosol size-distribution during the measurement period at Pune, reported in Chate and Pranesha (2004). The percentage of nucleated SO2-4and NO-3 aerosols of mid-point diameter 13 nm are 2% and 3% respectively of the total particles (13 nm≤Dp≤750 nm) for both H2SO4 and NH3 diffusion. In the diameter range 75 nm ≤ Dp ≤ 133 nm, it is 48% and 45% of SO2-4 and NO-3 aerosols, respectively for NH3 diffusion and 43% and 36% of SO2-4and NO-3 for H2SO4 diffusion. Increase in percentage of nucleated particles of these species corresponding to mid-point diameter 133 nm around 0900 h IST is significantly higher than that of mid-point diameter 13 nm and it is due to photo-chemical nucleation, coagulation and coalescence among nucleated clusters. The ratios of real to apparent formation rates for SO2-4 and NO-3 aerosols are 12% and 11% respectively, corresponding to mid-point diameter 13 nm, 17% and 13%, for midpoint diameter 133 nm and 12% and 9.5%, for mid-point diameter 750 nm. The results indicate that nucleation involving H2SO4 and acidic NH3 diffusion on SO2-4and NO-3 particles is the most relevant mechanism in this region. © Indian Academy of Sciences.