Measurements of the scavenging of sulfate and nitrate in clouds

Measurements are presented on the scavenging of sulfate and nitrate by cumulus, stratus and strato-cumulus clouds. Assuming that all of the particulate sulfate was in the size range 0.1–1.0 μm radius and that sulfate was scavenged with the same efficiency as sub-micrometer particles in general, the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmospheric environment 1984, Vol.18 (9), p.1939-1946
Main Authors: Hegg, Dean A., Hobbs, Peter V., Radke, Lawrence F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Atmospheric pollution
Exact sciences and technology
Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution
Pollution
Sulfate and nitrate scavenging
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Summary:Measurements are presented on the scavenging of sulfate and nitrate by cumulus, stratus and strato-cumulus clouds. Assuming that all of the particulate sulfate was in the size range 0.1–1.0 μm radius and that sulfate was scavenged with the same efficiency as sub-micrometer particles in general, the nucleation scavenging coefficient of sulfate in these clouds was deduced to be 0.7 ±0.2 and evidence for sulfate production (1.0±0.3 μgm −3) within cloud water was also obtained. Evidence for nitrate scavenging, by nitrates serving as cloud condensation nuclei or by the absorption of HNO 3 by cloud droplets, is also presented. The data suggest that either gaseous nitrogen compounds in the air other than HNO 3 can dissolve and contribute to the nitrate concentration in cloud water or that nitrate can be produced within cloud droplets.
ISSN:0004-6981
1352-2310
DOI:10.1016/0004-6981(84)90371-8