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Observational evidence for the non-suppression effect of atmospheric chemical modification on the ice nucleation activity of East Asian dust
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  • Jingchuan Chen,
  • Zhijun Wu,
  • Xiangxinyue Meng,
  • Cuiqi Zhang,
  • Jie Chen,
  • Yanting Qiu,
  • Li Chen,
  • Xin Fang,
  • Yuanyuan Wang,
  • Yinxiao Zhang,
  • Shiyi Chen,
  • Jian Gao,
  • Weijun Li,
  • Min Hu
Jingchuan Chen
Peking University
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Zhijun Wu
Peking University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xiangxinyue Meng
Peking University
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Cuiqi Zhang
Peking University
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Jie Chen
ETH
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Yanting Qiu
Peking University
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Li Chen
Peking University
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Xin Fang
Peking University
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Yuanyuan Wang
Zhejiang University
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Yinxiao Zhang
Zhejiang University
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Shiyi Chen
Peking University
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Jian Gao
Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences
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Weijun Li
Zhejiang University
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Min Hu
Peking University
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Abstract

Mineral dust alters cloud microphysical properties by acting as ice-nucleating particles (INPs). The effects of anthropogenic pollution aging on the ice nucleation activity (INA) of mineral dust are still controversial. Such effects were investigated by verifying the chemical aging of airborne size-resolved Asian dust particles via particle chemistry and morphology analyses and comparing the immersion mode INP properties of aged and normal Asian dust. The INP concentrations and ice nucleation active site densities of chemically aged supermicron dust particles (1.0-10.0 μm) were nearly equal to or slightly higher than those of normal Asian dust, which were 0.70-2.45 times and 0.64-4.34 times at -18 ℃, respectively. These results reveal that anthropogenic pollution does not notably change the INP concentrations and does not impair the INA of Asian dust. Our work provides direct observational evidence and clarifies the non-suppression effect of anthropogenic pollution on the INA of airborne East Asian dust.