New particle formation in the free troposphere: A question of chemistry and timing

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aad5456
• Publication Date: 2016-05-26T03:54:16Z
• Authors: F. Bianchi; J. Tröstl; H. Junninen; C. Frege; S. Henne; C. R. Hoyle; U. Molteni; E. Herrmann; A. Adamov; N. Bukowiecki; X. Chen; J. Duplissy; M. Gysel; M. Hutterli; J. Kangasluoma; J. Kontkanen; A. Kürten; H. E. Manninen; S. Münch; O. Peräkylä; T. Petäjä; L. Rondo; C. Williamson; E. Weingartner; J. Curtius; D. R. Worsnop; M. Kulmala; J. Dommen; U. Baltensperger
• Keywords: Particle (ecology); Cloud condensation nuclei

From neutral to new Many of the particles in troposphere are formed situ, but what fraction all tropospheric do they constitute and how exactly made? Bianchi et al. report results from a high-altitude research station. Roughly half were newly by condensation highly oxygenated multifunctional compounds. A combination laboratory results, field measurements, model calculations revealed that nucleation is more than 10 times faster ion-induced nucleation, particle growth rates size-dependent, formation occurs during limited time window. Science , this issue p. 1109