Article
Environmental Sciences
Aishwarya Raman, Thomas Hill, Paul J. DeMott, Balwinder Singh, Kai Zhang, Po-Lun Ma, Mingxuan Wu, Hailong Wang, Simon P. Alexander, Susannah M. Burrows
Summary: This study compares the simulated ice-nucleating particles (INPs) concentrations with the measurements during the Macquarie Island Cloud Radiation Experiment (MICRE). It finds that there are biases in the model's aerosol fields and INP parameterizations. Improvement is needed in both aerosol simulation and INP parameterizations.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Virendra P. Ghate, Thomas Surleta, Leehi Magaritz-Ronen, Shira Raveh-Rubin, Francesca Gallo, Annmarie G. Carlton, Eduardo B. Azevedo
Summary: This study analyzed seven years of data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement's Eastern North Atlantic (ENA) site to understand the factors controlling Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) concentrations in the region. The results showed that aerosol observations were influenced by local emissions, and CCN concentrations were higher in the summer months compared to winter months. Advection and precipitation scavenging were found to be the main factors modulating CCN concentrations on monthly timescales, with rain rates playing a role in precipitation scavenging. Low CCN events were associated with thicker clouds, stronger rain rates, and lower aerosol concentrations in the free troposphere.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gordon A. Novak, Charles H. Fite, Christopher D. Holmes, Patrick R. Veres, J. Andrew Neuman, Ian Faloona, Joel A. Thornton, Glenn M. Wolfe, Michael P. Vermeuel, Christopher M. Jernigan, Jeff Peischl, Thomas B. Ryerson, Chelsea R. Thompson, Ilann Bourgeois, Carsten Warneke, Georgios Gkatzelis, Mathew M. Coggon, Kanako Sekimoto, T. Paul Bui, Jonathan Dean-Day, Glenn S. Diskin, Joshua P. DiGangi, John B. Nowak, Richard H. Moore, Elizabeth B. Wiggins, Edward L. Winstead, Claire Robinson, K. Lee Thornhill, Kevin J. Sanchez, Samuel R. Hall, Kirk Ullmann, Maximilian Dollner, Bernadett Weinzierl, Donald R. Blake, Timothy H. Bertram
Summary: This study reveals that the oxidation of DMS in the marine atmosphere is reduced by cloud loss, affecting the generation of sulfur aerosols and altering the dynamics of marine aerosols, ultimately impacting cloud formation, radiative forcing, and climate.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Liu, Feiyue Mao, Daniel Rosenfeld, Zengxin Pan, Lin Zang, Yannian Zhu, Jianhua Yin, Wei Gong
Summary: The effects of fine aerosols and coarse sea spray aerosols on rainfall have opposite directions and are independent of meteorological conditions.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Abigail S. Williams, Adele L. Igel
Summary: Increases in aerosol concentration can affect the microphysical processes and radiative properties of clouds, leading to changes in liquid water path (LWP). Precipitating clouds experience an increase in LWP while non-precipitating clouds experience a decrease in LWP. In decoupled, non-precipitating clouds, the decrease in LWP is primarily driven by enhanced evaporation near the cloud top due to a strengthening of maximum radiative cooling rate with aerosol concentration.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jesse C. Anderson, Payton Beeler, Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Will Cantrell, Steven Krueger, Raymond A. Shaw, Fan Yang, Laura Fierce
Summary: The effect of aerosols on cloud properties is a major source of uncertainty in weather and climate predictions. Small-scale turbulent fluctuations play a crucial role in cloud droplet formation and can lead to errors in models without considering them.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tao Huang, Yannian Zhu, Daniel Rosenfeld, Yuanjian Yang, David H. Y. Lam, W. H. Leung, Harry F. Lee, Jack C. H. Cheng, Steve H. L. Yim
Summary: The regime dependence of aerosol-cloud interaction has been explored through idealized cloud-resolving models and observations. The activation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) is limited by particle numbers in clean conditions, while updraft velocities play a crucial role in polluted regimes. Warm rain suppression is significantly enhanced over inland areas. These findings are supported by satellite retrievals and LiDAR observations.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabelle Steinke, Paul J. DeMott, Grant B. Deane, Thomas C. J. Hill, Mathew Maltrud, Aishwarya Raman, Susannah M. Burrows
Summary: This study presents a framework for estimating the concentrations of high-temperature marine ice nucleating particles (INPs) in the sea surface microlayer and their subsequent emission into the atmospheric boundary layer. The results suggest that the existing hypotheses can partially explain the observed high INP concentrations, but further research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gerald G. Mace, Sally Benson, Ruhi Humphries, Peter M. Gombert, Elizabeth Sterner
Summary: The number of cloud droplets per unit volume (Nd) is a crucial property of marine boundary layer (MBL) liquid clouds and has a significant impact on albedo at a constant liquid water path. Previous studies have shown a direct correlation between regional Nd and marine primary productivity (PP) due to the influence of seasonally varying, biogenically derived precursor gases on secondary aerosol properties. These connections are believed to be observable in high-latitude oceans, where aerosol and meteorology exhibit strong seasonal variability in mostly pristine environments. This study examines the variability of Nd derived from 5 years of MODIS Level 2-derived cloud properties in a broad region of the summer eastern Southern Ocean and adjacent marginal seas. The results demonstrate latitudinal, longitudinal, and temporal gradients in Nd that are strongly associated with the passage of air masses over high-PP waters, particularly along the Antarctic Shelf poleward of 60 degrees S. Furthermore, the albedo of MBL clouds in latitudes south of 60 degrees S is significantly higher than that of similar liquid water path (LWP) clouds north of this latitude.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Minghua Liang, Jiangchuan Tao, Nan Ma, Ye Kuang, Yanyan Zhang, Sen Wu, Xuejuan Jiang, Yao He, Chunrong Chen, Wenda Yang, Yaqing Zhou, Peng Cheng, Wanyun Xu, Juan Hong, Qiaoqiao Wang, Chunsheng Zhao, Guangsheng Zhou, Yele Sun, Qiang Zhang, Hang Su, Yafang Cheng
Summary: This study utilized the random forest model to predict CCN spectral parameters using observational data from four campaigns in the North China Plain, investigating the impact of aerosol chemical and optical properties on the estimation of CCN spectra.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
X. Jing, J. Yang, T. Li, J. Hu, C. He, Y. Yin, P. J. DeMott, Z. Wang, H. Jiang, K. Chen
Summary: This study investigates the pre-activation of ice nucleating particles (INPs) in deposition mode and finds that pre-activated INPs can enhance ice generation in mixed-phase clouds. The activation efficiency of INPs is increased after pre-activation, even at relatively warm temperatures such as -10 degrees C. This research provides important evidence for understanding and predicting cloud and precipitation processes.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Emily B. Franklin, Michael R. Alves, Alexia N. Moore, Delaney B. Kilgour, Gordon A. Novak, Kathryn Mayer, Jonathan S. Sauer, Robert J. Weber, Duyen Dang, Margaux Winter, Christopher Lee, Christopher D. Cappa, Timothy H. Bertram, Kimberly A. Prather, Vicki H. Grassian, Allen H. Goldstein
Summary: Researchers found that benzothiazoles in coastal waters are primarily from anthropogenic sources, and the oxidation of gas-phase benzothiazole can lead to the formation of secondary aerosols in the atmosphere, potentially contributing to the formation of secondary marine aerosols in coastal regions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tom Goren, Odran Sourdeval, Jan Kretzschmar, Johannes Quaas
Summary: This paper examines the impact of cloud albedo morphology, which reflects cloud heterogeneity, on radiative forcing due to aerosol-cloud interactions. The estimation of radiative forcing relies on the assumption of cloud homogeneity within a given scene, but this assumption is no longer valid when satellite data is spatially aggregated. As a result, there is an overestimation of radiative forcing, particularly in heterogeneous scenes, which can reach up to 50%. The study also suggests that cloud albedo enhancement is most effective in homogeneous scenes, emphasizing the importance of considering cloud albedo homogeneity in marine cloud brightening strategies.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robert Wood
Summary: A simple heuristic model is described to evaluate the potential for increasing solar reflection by augmenting the aerosol population below marine low clouds. The model accounts for the impact of various point sources of particle sprayers and performs well against estimates from large eddy simulation studies. The model underestimates brightening in most realistic conditions but shows promise in assessing the effects of aerosol injections on cloud brightening.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Fei Wang, Zhanqing Li, Delong Zhao, Xincheng Ma, Yang Gao, Jiujiang Sheng, Ping Tian, Maureen Cribb
Summary: Detailed airborne measurements were conducted in a drizzling marine stratocumulus cloud deck over eastern China to investigate aerosol-cloud interactions and cloud microphysical properties. The findings revealed that collision coalescence of cloud droplets, condensation of small droplets, and collision-induced break-up of drizzle were the dominant microphysical processes in the sampled water cloud parcel. Additionally, a negative relationship between relative dispersion (epsilon) and cloud droplet number concentration was observed, with epsilon closely related to liquid water content (LWC) and updraft velocity.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Maria Lbadaoui-Darvas, Giovanni Garberoglio, Katerina S. Karadima, M. Natalia D. S. Cordeiro, Athanasios Nenes, Satoshi Takahama
Summary: This comprehensive review explores methods and applications of molecular simulations of interfacial systems, providing detailed insights into techniques and challenges in solid and fluid surfaces. The review also summarizes methods for estimating macroscopic properties of interfaces and extracting information about fluctuating liquid surfaces, demonstrating their application in atmospheric science, material science, and biophysics. The main goals are to guide practical questions in software, force fields, and select appropriate analysis methods, while highlighting the potential for molecular simulations to advance our understanding in applied science.
MOLECULAR SIMULATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Savannah L. Lewis, Lynn M. Russell, John A. McKinsey, William J. Harris
Summary: The Oceano Dunes in California is a natural source of wind-driven dust emissions, primarily consisting of particulate matter (PM) with a particle size larger than 1 μm. To evaluate the impact of reducing PM emissions from the dune area on air quality, samples were collected during high-wind months from 2019 to 2021 to analyze the organic and elemental composition of PM10 and PM2.5. The results suggest that while the contribution of unidentified components from the dunes is relatively high, there is no evidence of toxic substances, indicating that current dust abatement strategies may not significantly improve downwind air quality.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shunyao Wang, Yue Zhao, Arthur W. H. Chan, Min Yao, Zhongming Chen, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Summary: Organic peroxides (POs) are important reactive intermediates in atmospheric multiphase processes. They play a key role in the formation, growth, aging, climate, and health impacts of aerosol. This article summarizes the current understanding of atmospheric POs, including their identification, quantification, formation mechanisms, transformation pathways, and environmental and health impacts. The study highlights the need to understand the complex nature and dynamic behavior of POs in order to fully comprehend their origin, fate, and impacts in the atmosphere.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Spiro D. Jorga, Yutong Wang, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Summary: High loadings of biomass burning aerosol particles from wildfire or residential heating sources can deposit onto surfaces and interact with oxidants. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), emitted during cleaning with chlorine-cleaning agents, can form organochlorine pollutants when exposed to wood smoke aerosol particles. Unsaturated species in wood smoke such as coniferaldehyde and furfural react efficiently with HOCl. The presence of biomass burning emissions suppresses active chlorine recycling in the outdoor environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
S. Dasarathy, L. M. Russell, S. D. Rodier, J. S. Bowman
Summary: We evaluated satellite-retrieved marine aerosol in the western Antarctic Peninsula over a 12-year period and found different correlations between coarse-mode aerosol optical depth (AOD(C)) and new marine aerosol optical depth (MAOD) with wind speed and sea surface temperature. Warmer sea surface temperature enhanced the production of sea spray aerosol (SSA).
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Kandis Arlinghaus, Amanda A. A. Frossard, William L. L. Miller
Summary: This study examined the influence of environmental and chemical parameters on the production rates and decay pathways of O2- in natural water. The results showed that pH, ionic strength, buffer, and halides all had an impact on the production and decay of O2-. The reductive decay pathways of O2- were dominant with increased pH and NaCl additions, and the maximal photoproduction rates of O2- increased with carbonate buffer. After 2 hours of irradiation, there was a significant decline in O2- production rates and a minor increase in oxidative pathways. These findings suggest variations in O2- decay pathways and production rates across natural water and as a function of irradiation history.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Amy East, Amir AghaKouchak, Graziella Caprarelli, Gabriel Filippelli, Fabio Florindo, Charles Luce, Harihar Rajaram, Lynn Russell, Cristina Santin, Isaac Santos
Summary: Fire has always been a significant part of ecosystems, but human-induced global climate change is now changing fire patterns on Earth's land surface, making it crucial to understand the physical, biological, and chemical processes of fire and its impact on human societies. In 2020, AGU launched a Special Collection across 10 journals, inviting papers on the theme of Fire in the Earth System to promote cutting-edge research in fire-related science. The completed Special Collection consists of over 100 papers. This summary categorizes the published articles into seven themes: paleofire and its correlation with climate; evolution of recent and future fire patterns under ongoing climate change; physical (atmospheric) and chemical processes associated with fire; ecosystem effects, including biogeochemical cycles; physical landscape changes and associated hazards after fire; fire effects on water quality, air quality, and human health; and new methods and technologies applied in fire research.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Florence K. A. Gregson, Nealan G. A. Gerrebos, Meredith Schervish, Sepehr Nikkho, Elijah G. Schnitzler, Carley Schwartz, Christopher Carlsten, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Saeid Kamal, Manabu Shiraiwa, Allan K. Bertram
Summary: Smoke particles generated by burning biomass contain two organic phases with different viscosities dependent on relative humidity. This can have implications for reaction kinetics and cloud formation in the atmosphere, as well as increase the atmospheric lifetime of brown carbon and its predicted warming effect on climate.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zilin Zhou, Leigh R. Crilley, Jenna C. Ditto, Trevor C. Vandenboer, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Summary: Unsaturated triglycerides found in food and skin oils are reactive in ambient air, but their chemical fate in genuine indoor environments is not well understood. This study monitored the aging of oil coatings on glass surfaces and found that ozonolysis is the dominant degradation pathway for oil films in both commercial and office settings. Indoor photooxidation was found to accelerate radical formation on surfaces. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) observed may induce oxidative stress in human bodies and further investigation of their toxicological properties is warranted.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tret C. Burdette, Rachel L. Bramblett, Kathryn Zimmermann, Amanda A. Frossard
Summary: In this study, particles in ten diameter-size ranges were collected and analyzed to determine the physical and chemical properties of surfactants in different air mass source regions. The results showed that the presence of surfactants in the particles was confirmed, and their concentrations were negatively correlated with surface tension. Organic compounds extracted from particles influenced by marine sources had higher carbon numbers and exhibited characteristics similar to surfactants and lipid-like molecules. This study provides valuable insights into the sources and properties of atmospheric aerosol particles.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Max Loebel Roson, Maya Abou-Ghanem, Erica Kim, Shuang Wu, Dylan Long, Sarah A. Styler, Ran Zhao
Summary: Biomass burning is a significant contributor to atmospheric pollution, with adverse impacts on climate and human health. This study investigates the chemistry and potential impacts of anhydrides, which have been identified as a significant fraction of biomass burning emissions. The results show that anhydrides can react with nucleophiles emitted by biomass burning and also uptake on the emissions themselves, indicating their potential role in the formation of secondary organic aerosol and climate effects.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jenna C. Ditto, Leigh R. Crilley, Melodie Lao, Trevor C. VandenBoer, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Arthur W. H. Chan
Summary: Gas and particulate emissions from commercial kitchens significantly impact urban air quality. This study analyzed volatile organic compounds and particulate matter concentrations in a well-ventilated commercial kitchen during cooking and cleaning operations. The results showed that cooking emissions primarily consist of oxygenated compounds from cooking oil degradation. The high ventilation rate effectively reduces exposure to gas-phase chemicals, but exposure to particulate matter and chlorinated gases increases during evening cleaning. This highlights the importance of careful consideration of ventilation rates and methods in commercial kitchen environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vikram Choudhary, Max Loebel Roson, Xinyang Guo, Tania Gautam, Tarun Gupta, Ran Zhao
Summary: This study explores the aging process of water-soluble brown carbon (WS-BrC) aerosols generated from burning cow dung, with a focus on cloud-water photochemistry. It is found that different types of solid biomass fuel have different evolution pathways, but all biomass burning WS-BrC aerosols exhibit enhanced absorbance under shorter wavelength UV-light. The OH-oxidation lifetime of biomass burning WS-BrC aerosols in cloud-water may not depend on the biomass type.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rowshon Afroz, Xinyang Guo, Chu-Wen Cheng, Ariel Delorme, Ryan Duruisseau-Kuntz, Ran Zhao
Summary: Exposure to air pollutants can harm human health, making indoor air quality a crucial concern for people. This study examined the IAQ in university residences using low-cost sensors (LCS) and found that indoor activities such as cooking and using humidifiers can generate high levels of PM2.5. The study also revealed the impact of building ventilation behavior and outdoor temperature on indoor CO2 and PM2.5 concentrations. Furthermore, the correlation between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations demonstrated the influence of outdoor air on IAQ. Overall, this research highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and personalized IAQ management using LCS in student residences.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pascale S. J. Lakey, Andreas Zuend, Glenn C. Morrison, Thomas Berkemeier, Jake Wilson, Caleb Arata, Allen H. Goldstein, Kevin R. Wilson, Nijing Wang, Jonathan Williams, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Manabu Shiraiwa
Summary: Studies have shown that the reaction of squalene with ozone can produce various products, and the yield depends on relative humidity. A new mechanism has been developed to simulate these reactions and control the concentrations of different products accordingly. Increasing relative humidity significantly impacts the concentrations of various products.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)