New particle formation in the remote marine boundary layer

Marine low clouds play an important role in the climate system, and their properties are sensitive to cloud condensation nuclei concentrations. While new particle formation represents a major source of cloud condensation nuclei globally, the prevailing view is that new particle formation rarely occu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2021-01, Vol.12 (1), p.527-527, Article 527
Main Authors: Zheng, Guangjie, Wang, Yang, Wood, Robert, Jensen, Michael P., Kuang, Chongai, McCoy, Isabel L., Matthews, Alyssa, Mei, Fan, Tomlinson, Jason M., Shilling, John E., Zawadowicz, Maria A., Crosbie, Ewan, Moore, Richard, Ziemba, Luke, Andreae, Meinrat O., Wang, Jian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
140/58
704/106/35
704/106/694
Air temperature
Atmospheric science
Boundary layers
climate change
Climate system
Clouds
Cold
Cold fronts
Condensation
Condensation nuclei
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Fluxes
Gases
Humanities and Social Sciences
multidisciplinary
Ocean surface
Oceans
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Sulfuric acid
Temperature
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Summary:Marine low clouds play an important role in the climate system, and their properties are sensitive to cloud condensation nuclei concentrations. While new particle formation represents a major source of cloud condensation nuclei globally, the prevailing view is that new particle formation rarely occurs in remote marine boundary layer over open oceans. Here we present evidence of the regular and frequent occurrence of new particle formation in the upper part of remote marine boundary layer following cold front passages. The new particle formation is facilitated by a combination of efficient removal of existing particles by precipitation, cold air temperatures, vertical transport of reactive gases from the ocean surface, and high actinic fluxes in a broken cloud field. The newly formed particles subsequently grow and contribute substantially to cloud condensation nuclei in the remote marine boundary layer and thereby impact marine low clouds. Globally, new particle formation represents a major source of cloud condensation nuclei. Here, the authors present evidence of frequent occurrence of new particle formation in the upper part of remote marine boundary layer following cold front passages.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-020-20773-1