Accumulation and Coarse Modes Particle Concentrations during Dew Formation and Precipitation

Abstract

This study investigates the number concentrations of accumulation mode (0.3–1 µm) and coarse mode (1–10 µm) particles in the eastern Mediterranean urban environment with and without precipitation and dew formation. The results show that the number concentrations of both the accumulation mode and coarse mode particles decreased (with ratios of ~0.7 and ~0.36, respectively) during precipitation. In our analysis, we assumed that dew formation occurred in Amman during nighttime when the relative humidity (RH) was higher than 80% and the difference between the temperature and dew point temperature (i.e., T–DP) was less than 2.5°C. In general, the accumulation mode particle number concentration increased with relative humidity and doubled, on average, during dew formation. On the other hand, the coarse mode particle number concentration was 30% lower during conditions with dew formation than without. The increased number concentration of the accumulation mode particles during dew formation conditions is most likely due to enhanced water vapor condensation on existing ultrafine aerosols (diameter < 0.1 µm), enabling particles to grow to detectable sizes, including the accumulation mode. The decreased number concentration of the coarse mode particles during dew formation conditions may be due to enhanced wet deposition.