Number size distribution of insolubleatmospheric aerosol particles in fog/cloud-water

Abstract

AbstractThe design and the efficiency — curve of a newly developed fog/cloud-water sampler (rotating arm collector)is discussed. Fog/cloud-water samples were taken during Oct./Nov. 1990 on the mountain ‘Kleiner Feldberg’/Taunus, FRG. The number size distribution of the insoluble atmospheric aerosol particles in water is determined in the size range 0.025μm < r p < 10.0μm . The size distribution of activated aerosol particles in air is derived from this distribution. Comparison of the spectrum of the activated aerosol particles with the total distribution of aerosol particles in air (measured during the same campaign, but in the size range 0.008μm < r p < 0.45μm ) indicates, that in the size range r p > 0.06μm the major part of atmospheric aerosol particles becomes activated during fog/clouds. The variations of the size distribution in fog/cloud-water during an event is low.