New sulfate particle formation during summer pollution episodes using a 3-D aerosol model

Abstract

In the present paper the new particle formation of sulfate particles during transport of polluted air masses with sulfur dioxide is examined using a newly developed three-Dimensional aerosol model with low computational needs. Production of new sulfate particles is observed in the vicinity of high concentrations of sulfur dioxide. Nucleation is not contributing a significant amount of mass in the aerosol particle size distribution but produces a large number of submicron particles which change the picture of the aerosol number distribution. Condensation growth is the dominant mechanism for the evolution of the size distribution of sulfate particles under moderate relative humidity conditions in agreement with previous studies. The present study confirms that long-range transport of air masses polluted with sulfur dioxide are responsible for the sulfate mass in the aerosol particle size distribution. The present model introduces the basis for other atmospheric applications of new particle formation such as in clean marine conditions with low background aerosol concentrations.