Particle Formation in a Complex Environment

Doreena Dominick,Paul Selleck,Ruhi Humphries,Clare Paton-Walsh,Stephen R Wilson,Élise-Andrée Guérette,Melita Keywood,Dagmar Kubistin,Ben Marwick

doi:10.3390/atmos10050275

Abstract

A field aerosol measurement campaign as part of the Measurements of Urban, Marine and Biogenic Air (MUMBA) campaign was conducted between 16 January 2013 and 15 February 2013 in the coastal city of Wollongong, Australia. The objectives of this research were to study the occurrence frequency, characteristics and factors that influence new particle formation processes. Particle formation and growth events were observed from particle number size distribution data in the range of 14 nm–660 nm measured using a scanning particle mobility sizer (SMPS). Four weak Class I particle formation and growth event days were observed, which is equivalent to 13% of the total observation days. The events occurred during the day, starting after 8:30 Australian Eastern Standard time with an average duration of five hours. The events also appeared to be positively linked to the prevailing easterly to north easterly sea breezes that carry pollutants from sources in and around Sydney. This suggests that photochemical reactions and a combination of oceanic and anthropogenic air masses are among the factors that influenced these events.

Highlights

Atmospheric aerosols have a major influence on health and climate [1,2,3]
Eight particle formation and growth events were observed in this study, which is equivalent to 25% of the total observation days
Class I events took place in the sunny periods, starting after 8:00 and lasting till 14:30 with an average duration of five hours. These events were classified as “weak” particle formation events. This observation is likely to be related to the meteorological conditions, especially the wind direction experienced at the monitoring site

Summary

Introduction

Atmospheric aerosols have a major influence on health and climate [1,2,3]. Recently, Cohen et al [4]reported that ambient fine aerosols (PM2.5 ) were the fifth ranking mortality risk factor in 2015, where the global mortality estimated due to ambient PM2.5 was 4.2 million people annually. Atmospheric aerosols have a major influence on health and climate [1,2,3]. Cohen et al [4]. Reported that ambient fine aerosols (PM2.5 ) were the fifth ranking mortality risk factor in 2015, where the global mortality estimated due to ambient PM2.5 was 4.2 million people annually. Studies have identified a correlation between fine particulate matter and various health conditions, respiratory and cardiovascular disease [5,6]. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Had defined particulate matter as a human carcinogen [7]. The Earth’s climate is influenced both directly and indirectly by atmospheric particles. Particles scatter and absorb radiation [3,8,9]

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