Rapid formation of sulfuric acid particles at near-atmospheric conditions.
We investigated the formation of new particles in a laboratory study, starting from H2SO4 produced in situ through the reaction of OH radicals with SO2. Newly formed particles were observed for H2SO4 concentrations above 7 x 10(6) per cubic centimeter. At 293 kelvin, a rough estimate yielded a nucleation rate of 0.3 to 0.4 particles per cubic centimeter per second for approximately 10(7) particles per cubic centimeter of H2SO4 (particle size >/= 3 nanometers). These findings are in agreement with observations from the atmosphere. The results demonstrate that under laboratory conditions similar to the atmosphere, particle formation occurs at atmospheric H2SO4 concentration levels.
Berndt
Torsten
T
Leibniz-Institut für Troposphärenforschung e.V., Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany. berndt@tropos.de
Böge
Olaf
O
Stratmann
Frank
F
Heintzenberg
Jost
J
Kulmala
Markku
M