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Coupling sea‐salt and sulphate interactions and its impact on cloud droplet concentration predictions
Author(s) -
O'Dowd Colin D.,
Lowe Jason A.,
Smith Michael H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl900231
Subject(s) - cloud condensation nuclei , aerosol , sea salt aerosol , sea salt , nucleation , cloud albedo , environmental science , condensation , atmospheric sciences , radiative forcing , albedo (alchemy) , cloud computing , sulfate , population , radiative transfer , salt (chemistry) , mixing (physics) , meteorology , materials science , chemistry , cloud cover , geology , physics , thermodynamics , computer science , operating system , metallurgy , art , sociology , quantum mechanics , art history , demography , performance art
A parameterisation of internal mixing between sulphate and sea‐salt aerosol is developed to determine the available externally mixed sulphate cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) population. This parameterisation is then combined with a multi‐component aerosol‐cloud parameterisation to predict cloud droplet concentration incorporating the physical competition between sea‐salt and sulphate nuclei in the cloud nucleation processes. The results of the combined parameterisation indicate a significantly reduced role, compared to previous estimates, for sulphate in cloud droplet nucleation, and consequently, in indirect radiative forcing. However, the results also imply that cloud droplet concentration, and consequently, cloud albedo, has a greater susceptibility to change resulting from further anthropogenic SO 2 emissions.