Work

Developing A Custom-Built Metal Aerosol Processing Chamber: Analysis of Aerosol Coagulation at Low Humidities

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: . We are developing an intermediate size (906 L) cloud chamber, and this paper reports on the design and initial characterization of dry aerosol experiments. Specifically, we are determining wall-loss and coagulation correction factors using the observed size distribution measurements for surrogates of common aerosol classes: sodium chloride, sucrose, and soot. Results show that, on average, sodium chloride, sucrose, and soot wall-loss rates converge to similar values on relatively short time scales (<1 hour). The fitted coagulation correction factor, Wc-1, for soot particles (1.23 ± 0.312), indicates they adhere to each other more than sodium chloride (0.969 ± 0.524) and sucrose (1.16 ± 1.38). This study lays the foundation for future experiments at elevated humidity and supersaturation conditions to characterize the influence of particle shape on coagulation and cloud parameters.

Source: Atmospheric measurement techniques

DOI: 10.5194/amt-18-5705-2025

Authors: Nevil A. Franco, Kyle J. Gorkowski, Katherine B. Benedict

Institution: Los Alamos National Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,585

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos National Laboratory