Measurements of aerosol size-resolved hygroscopicity at sub and supermicron sizes

Abstract

Airborne measurements of size-resolved aerosol hygroscopicity are presented using an optical particle counting and sizing technique. The measurement range of 0.25 to 3.5 μm is significantly greater, and extends to larger sizes, than previous in situ techniques. Preliminary results reveal a peak in aerosol hygroscopicity in the 0.5 -1.5 μm diameter size range in both marine and polluted aerosols. Geometric growth factors range from 1.3 to 1.5 and 1.1 to 1.3 for the sub and super-micron particles, respectively. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.