Microphysical detection of nano-ice nuclei to ice crystals: a platform for ice nucleation research

IF 8.5 1区 地球科学 Q1 METEOROLOGY & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
Devendra Pal, Ryan Hall, Yevgen Nazarenko, Leonard Barrie, Parisa A. Ariya
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Atmospheric ice nucleation plays a crucial role in cloud formation, precipitation, and climate dynamics. However, the physicochemical properties of submicron ice nucleating particles (INPs) remain poorly understood, and distinguishing between nano- to micron-sized ice crystals and supercooled droplets in cloud microphysical processes remains a significant challenge. Here, we present the first detection of nano-sized ice crystals (390 nm) along with their physical properties using a portable platform for ice nucleation that integrates the McGill Real-time Ice Nucleation Chamber (MRINC) with advanced holographic microscopy and aerosol sizers. This platform enables real-time detection and differentiation of ice crystals and supercooled droplets, providing microphysical information into their spherical or non-spherical morphology, surface roughness, and phase characteristics, particularly for ice particles smaller than 500 nm. Automated algorithms facilitate the differentiation of individual and aggregated ice crystals within a size range of 390 nm to 100 µm, supporting time-resolved analyses of ice nucleation processes. Surface roughness (Rt, Ra) measurements and 3D structural data offer critical insights into light scattering and radiation interactions, with smaller ice crystals (<1 µm) exhibiting higher roughness and enhanced multidirectional scattering. Validation through computational fluid dynamics simulations and experiments demonstrates platform ability to differentiate silver iodide-nucleated ice crystals from supercooled droplets and to monitor aerosol growth, advancing our understanding of aerosol-cloud-radiation interactions.

Abstract Image

纳米冰核到冰晶的微物理检测:一个冰核研究平台
大气冰核在云的形成、降水和气候动力学中起着至关重要的作用。然而,亚微米冰成核粒子(INPs)的物理化学性质仍然知之甚少,并且在云微物理过程中区分纳米到微米尺寸的冰晶和过冷液滴仍然是一个重大挑战。在这里,我们提出了纳米级冰晶(390纳米)及其物理性质的首次检测,使用了一个便携式冰成核平台,该平台将麦吉尔实时冰成核室(MRINC)与先进的全息显微镜和气溶胶大小计集成在一起。该平台能够实时检测和区分冰晶和过冷液滴,提供有关其球形或非球形形态、表面粗糙度和相位特征的微物理信息,特别是小于500 nm的冰颗粒。自动化算法有助于区分尺寸范围为390 nm至100 μ m的单个和聚集冰晶,支持冰成核过程的时间分辨分析。表面粗糙度(Rt, Ra)测量和3D结构数据为光散射和辐射相互作用提供了关键的见解,较小的冰晶(<1 μ m)显示出更高的粗糙度和增强的多向散射。通过计算流体动力学模拟和实验验证了平台区分碘化银核冰晶和过冷液滴的能力,并监测气溶胶的生长,促进了我们对气溶胶-云-辐射相互作用的理解。
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来源期刊
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science Earth and Planetary Sciences-Atmospheric Science
CiteScore
8.80
自引率
3.30%
发文量
87
审稿时长
21 weeks
期刊介绍: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science is an open-access journal encompassing the relevant physical, chemical, and biological aspects of atmospheric and climate science. The journal places particular emphasis on regional studies that unveil new insights into specific localities, including examinations of local atmospheric composition, such as aerosols. The range of topics covered by the journal includes climate dynamics, climate variability, weather and climate prediction, climate change, ocean dynamics, weather extremes, air pollution, atmospheric chemistry (including aerosols), the hydrological cycle, and atmosphere–ocean and atmosphere–land interactions. The journal welcomes studies employing a diverse array of methods, including numerical and statistical modeling, the development and application of in situ observational techniques, remote sensing, and the development or evaluation of new reanalyses.
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