Abstract
Calculations are presented that illustrate the relative importance of new particle formation by heteromolecular nucleation vs growth by vapor condensation on existing nuclei in the stratosphere. Nucleation and condensation of aqueous sulfur acid droplets are used as the aerosol model. The production of new sulfuric acid particles is found to be very sensitive to water vapor concentration in the air. For stratospheric conditions, the results indicate that vapor-diffusion limited growth on existing particles dominates at normal stratospheric concentrations of water vapor up to 1 or 2 ppm. However, heteromolecular nucleation of new particles may become important at altitudes between 12 and 20km if ambient water vapor concentration exceeds 10 ppm.
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