What controls the ice nucleating ability of sea spray aerosols at cirrus
temperatures?
Abstract
Cirrus clouds are frequently observed in the upper troposphere and have
a strong impact on Earth’s radiative balance. However, significant
uncertainties remain regarding the role aerosols play in cirrus cloud
formation and evolution. Due to their abundance in the atmosphere sea
spray aerosols (SSA) have recently been identified as potential ice
nucleating particles in cirrus clouds. Using a continuous flow diffusion
chamber (CFDC), the ice nucleating ability of size-selected SSA and
sodium chloride (NaCl) particles is investigated at temperatures
< 235 K. Above ~220 K, the majority of SSA and
NaCl particles fully deliquesce and freeze via homogeneous nucleation
near water relative humidities RHw of ~95%. Below 220
K, the onset freezing RHw is much lower at ~75% for SSA
and NaCl, and strong heterogeneous freezing of 10% of the aerosol
population is observed. The similar heterogeneous freezing behavior
between SSA and NaCl, which occurs near their expected deliquescence RHw
indicates the freezing of SSA at the lowest temperatures is controlled
by the inorganic salt components. Lastly, ice nucleation active surface
site densities are calculated and show that particle size does not
dictate the heterogeneous freezing efficiency for SSA and NaCl. This
study demonstrates SSA as a potentially significant source of ice
nucleating particles in cirrus clouds, and may contribute further
climate impacts if SSA emissions and transport change in the future.