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The contribution of organics to atmospheric nanoparticle growth

Nature Geoscience volume 5, pages 453–458 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Aerosols have a strong, yet poorly quantified, effect on climate. The growth of the smallest atmospheric particles from diameters in the nanometre range to sizes at which they may act as seeds for cloud droplets is a key step linking aerosols to clouds and climate. In many environments, atmospheric nanoparticles grow by taking up organic compounds that are derived from biogenic hydrocarbon emissions. Several mechanisms may control this uptake. Condensation of low-volatility vapours and formation of organic salts probably dominate the very first steps of growth in particles close to 1 nm in diameter. As the particles grow further, formation of organic polymers and effects related to the phase of the particle probably become increasingly important. We suggest that dependence of particle growth mechanisms on particle size needs to be investigated more systematically.

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Figure 1: Connections between volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, nanoparticle growth, climate and air quality.
Figure 2: Particle formation event on 23 July 2010 in Hyytiälä, Finland4.
Figure 3: The processes influencing organic vapour uptake by atmospheric nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support by European Research Council Grant ATMOGAIN (project no. 278277), Vetenskapsrådet, European FP7 Integrated project PEGASOS (project number 265148), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), US Department of Energy (DESC0007075), US National Science Foundation (AGS1136479 and CHE1012293), and Academy of Finland (project numbers 133872 and 139656) are gratefully acknowledged. Antti-Jussi Kieloaho, Theo Kurtén, Ulla Makkonen, Spyros N. Pandis, and Mikko Äijälä are acknowledged for their valuable input in the form of useful discussions and providing experimental data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Environmental Science & Bert Bolin Center for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SE-10691, Sweden

    Ilona Riipinen

  2. Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland

    Taina Yli-Juuti, Tuukka Petäjä, Douglas R. Worsnop & Markku Kulmala

  3. Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 3J5, Nova Scotia, Canada

    Jeffrey R. Pierce

  4. Aerodyne Research Inc., Billerica, 01821, Massachusetts, USA

    Douglas R. Worsnop

  5. Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, Pennsylvania, USA

    Ilona Riipinen & Neil M. Donahue

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Correspondence to Ilona Riipinen.

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Riipinen, I., Yli-Juuti, T., Pierce, J. et al. The contribution of organics to atmospheric nanoparticle growth. Nature Geosci 5, 453–458 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1499

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