TY - JOUR
T1 - Vertical and Horizontal Distribution of Regional New Particle Formation Events in Madrid
AU - Carnerero, Cristina
AU - Perez, Noemi
AU - Reche, Cristina
AU - Ealo, Marina
AU - Titos, Gloria
AU - Lee, Hong-Ku
AU - Eun, Hee-Ram
AU - Park, Yong-Hee
AU - Dada, Lubna
AU - Paasonen, Pauli
AU - Kerminen, Veli-Matti
AU - Mantilla, Enrique
AU - Escudero, Miguel
AU - Gomez-Moreno, Francisco J.
AU - Alonso-Blanco, Elisabeth
AU - Coz, Esther
AU - Saiz-Lopez, Alfonso
AU - Temime-Roussel, Brice
AU - Marchand, Nicolas
AU - Beddows, David
AU - Harrison, Roy
AU - Petaja, Tuukka
AU - Kulmala, Markku
AU - Ahn, Kang-Ho
AU - Alastuey, Andres
AU - Querol, Xavier
PY - 2018/11/22
Y1 - 2018/11/22
N2 - The vertical profile of new particle formation (NPF) events was studied by comparing the aerosol size number distributions measured aloft and at surface level in a suburban environment in Madrid, Spain, using airborne instruments. The horizontal distribution and regional impact of the NPF events was investigated with data from three urban, urban background, and suburban stations in the Madrid metropolitan area. Intensive regional NPF episodes followed by particle growth were simultaneously recorded at three stations in and around Madrid during a field campaign in July 2016. The urban stations presented larger formation rates compared to the suburban station. Condensation and coagulation sinks followed a similar evolution at all stations, with higher values at urban stations. However, the total number concentration of particles larger than 2.5nm was lower at the urban station and peaked around noon, when black carbon (BC) levels are at a minimum. The vertical soundings demonstrated that ultrafine particles (UFPs) are formed exclusively inside the mixed layer. As convection becomes more effective and the mixed layer grows, UFPs are detected at higher levels. The morning soundings revealed the presence of a residual layer in the upper levels in which aged particles (nucleated and grown on previous days) prevail. The particles in this layer also grow in size, with growth rates significantly smaller than those inside the mixed layer. Under conditions with strong enough convection, the soundings revealed homogeneous number size distributions and growth rates at all altitudes, which follow the same evolution at the other stations considered in this study. This indicates that UFPs are detected quasi-homogenously in an area spanning at least 17km horizontally. The NPF events extend over the full vertical extension of the mixed layer, which can reach as high as 3000m in the area, according to previous studies. On some days a marked decline in particle size (shrinkage) was observed in the afternoon, associated with a change in air masses. Additionally, a few nocturnal nucleation-mode bursts were observed at the urban stations, for which further research is needed to elucidate their origin.
AB - The vertical profile of new particle formation (NPF) events was studied by comparing the aerosol size number distributions measured aloft and at surface level in a suburban environment in Madrid, Spain, using airborne instruments. The horizontal distribution and regional impact of the NPF events was investigated with data from three urban, urban background, and suburban stations in the Madrid metropolitan area. Intensive regional NPF episodes followed by particle growth were simultaneously recorded at three stations in and around Madrid during a field campaign in July 2016. The urban stations presented larger formation rates compared to the suburban station. Condensation and coagulation sinks followed a similar evolution at all stations, with higher values at urban stations. However, the total number concentration of particles larger than 2.5nm was lower at the urban station and peaked around noon, when black carbon (BC) levels are at a minimum. The vertical soundings demonstrated that ultrafine particles (UFPs) are formed exclusively inside the mixed layer. As convection becomes more effective and the mixed layer grows, UFPs are detected at higher levels. The morning soundings revealed the presence of a residual layer in the upper levels in which aged particles (nucleated and grown on previous days) prevail. The particles in this layer also grow in size, with growth rates significantly smaller than those inside the mixed layer. Under conditions with strong enough convection, the soundings revealed homogeneous number size distributions and growth rates at all altitudes, which follow the same evolution at the other stations considered in this study. This indicates that UFPs are detected quasi-homogenously in an area spanning at least 17km horizontally. The NPF events extend over the full vertical extension of the mixed layer, which can reach as high as 3000m in the area, according to previous studies. On some days a marked decline in particle size (shrinkage) was observed in the afternoon, associated with a change in air masses. Additionally, a few nocturnal nucleation-mode bursts were observed at the urban stations, for which further research is needed to elucidate their origin.
U2 - 10.5194/acp-18-16601-2018
DO - 10.5194/acp-18-16601-2018
M3 - Article
SN - 1680-7316
VL - 18
JO - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
JF - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
ER -