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Nitrogenated organic aerosols as cloud condensation nuclei
Author(s) -
Twohy C. H.,
Anderson J. R.,
Crozier P. A.
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1029/2005gl023605
Subject(s) - cloud condensation nuclei , aerosol , condensation , cloud computing , particle (ecology) , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , mixing (physics) , cloud physics , chemical physics , meteorology , physics , geology , computer science , operating system , oceanography , quantum mechanics
One important role of anthropogenic aerosol particles is their influence on climate by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. However, these particles are diverse in composition and mixing state, and our knowledge of which particle types act as cloud condensation nuclei is incomplete. Here we present direct measurements of individual organic particles that nucleated cloud droplets in the atmosphere. These results indicate that nitrogenated organic aerosol particles can act as cloud condensation nuclei without being mixed with inorganic material, and thus influence climate through cloud formation.