TY  - JOUR
A1  - Krüger, Mira L.
A1  - Mertes, Stephan
A1  - Klimach, Thomas
A1  - Cheng, Ya F.
A1  - Su, Hang
A1  - Schneider, Johannes
A1  - Andreae, Meinrat O.
A1  - Pöschl, Ulrich
A1  - Rose, Diana
T1  - Assessment of cloud supersaturation by aerosol particle and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) measurements [Discussion paper]
T2  - Atmospheric measurement techniques discussions
N2  - In this study we show how size-resolved measurements of aerosol particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) can be used to characterize the supersaturation of water vapor in a cloud. The method was developed and applied for the investigation of a cloud event during the ACRIDICON-Zugspitze campaign (17 September to 4 October 2012) at the high-alpine research station Schneefernerhaus (German Alps, 2650 m a.s.l.). Number size distributions of total and interstitial aerosol particles were measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), and size-resolved CCN efficiency spectra were recorded with a CCN counter system operated at different supersaturation levels.
During the evolution of a cloud, aerosol particles are exposed to different supersaturation levels. We outline and compare different estimates for the lower and upper bounds (Slow, Shigh) and the average value (Savg) of peak supersaturation encountered by the particles in the cloud. For the investigated cloud event, we derived Slow ≈ 0.19–0.25%, Shigh ≈ 0.90–1.64% and Savg ≈ 0.38–0.84%. Estimates of Slow, Shigh and Savg based on aerosol size distribution data require specific knowledge or assumptions of aerosol hygroscopicity, which are not required for the derivation of Slow and Savg from the size-resolved CCN efficiency spectra.
Y1  - 2013
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/37228
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-372282
SN  - 1867-8610
N1  - © Author(s) 2013. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
VL  - 6
SP  - 10021
EP  - 10056
PB  - Copernicus
CY  - Katlenburg-Lindau
ER  -