Articles | Volume 18, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5649-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5649-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
21 Oct 2025
Research article |
| 21 Oct 2025
| 21 Oct 2025
Development of the Horizontal Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter (HCCNC) to detect particle activation down to 4 °C temperature and 0.05 % supersaturation
Department of Environmental System Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Michael Rösch
Department of Environmental System Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Environmental System Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Related authors
No articles found.
Luis A. Ladino, Karin Ardon-Dryer, Diana L. Pereira, Ulrike Proske, Zyanya Ramirez-Diaz, Antonia Velicu, and Zamin A. Kanji
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4499, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4499, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscience Communication (GC).
Short summary
Short summary
A survey and literature metadata analysis from the cloud physics community are used to investigate the state of diversity, equity and inclusion in the cloud physics research community. We show the evolution of gender contributions to cloud physics and the inclusion of scientists from the Global South. The publication analysis reveals the rate of men and women dropping out of the field is not different, however, gender balance was better achieved when women led publications compared to men.
Mattia Righi, Baptiste Testa, Christof G. Beer, Johannes Hendricks, and Zamin A. Kanji
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2589, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2589, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The effective radiative forcing due to the effect of aviation soot on natural cirrus clouds is likely very small, thus confirming most previous studies, but for the first time with the support of laboratory measurements specifically targeting aviation soot and its ice nucleation ability.
Marilena Gidarakou, Alexandros Papayannis, Kunfeng Gao, Panagiotis Gidarakos, Benoit Crouzy, Romanos Foskinis, Sophie Erb, Cuiqi Zhang, Gian Lieberherr, Martine Collaud Coen, Branko Sikoparija, Zamin A. Kanji, Bernard Clot, Bertrand Calpini, Eugenia Giagka, and Athanasios Nenes
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2978, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2978, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Vertical profiles of pollen and biomass burning particles were obtained at a semi-rural site at the MeteoSwiss station near Payerne (Switzerland) using a novel multi-channel elastic-fluorescence lidar system combined with in situ measurements during the spring 2023 wildfires and pollination season during the PERICLES (PayernE lidaR and Insitu detection of fluorescent bioaerosol and dust partiCLES and their cloud impacts) campaign.
Nadia Shardt, Florin N. Isenrich, Julia Nette, Christopher Dreimol, Ning Ma, Zamin A. Kanji, Andrew J. deMello, and Claudia Marcolli
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2958, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2958, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In the atmosphere, minerals suspended in cloud droplets promote the formation of ice. We investigated ice formation in the presence of pure and binary mixtures of common minerals using a microfluidic device. The mineral with the best ability to initiate ice formation alone (that is, at the highest temperature) typically determined when ice formed in the binary mixture.
Guangyu Li, André Welti, Iris Thurnherr, Ulrike Lohmann, and Zamin A. Kanji
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2798, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2798, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents ship-based measurements of summertime ice-nucleating particles (INPs) over the data-scarce Eurasian-Arctic Seas. We found that INPs are driven by both local and regional sources, with the highest levels observed near land and over ice-free waters. This study is highlighted for improving the understanding of INP abundance, sources, and their role in cloud processes in the rapidly warming Arctic.
Anna J. Miller, Christopher Fuchs, Fabiola Ramelli, Huiying Zhang, Nadja Omanovic, Robert Spirig, Claudia Marcolli, Zamin A. Kanji, Ulrike Lohmann, and Jan Henneberger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5387–5407, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5387-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5387-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We analyzed the ability of silver iodide particles (a commonly used cloud-seeding agent) to form ice crystals in naturally occurring liquid clouds at −5 to −8 °C and found that only ≈ 0.1 %−1 % of particles nucleate ice, with a negative dependence on temperature. By contextualizing our results with previous laboratory studies, we help to bridge the gap between laboratory and field experiments, which also helps to inform future cloud-seeding projects.
Baptiste Testa, Lukas Durdina, Jacinta Edebeli, Curdin Spirig, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 10409–10424, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10409-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10409-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Aviation soot residuals released from contrails can become compacted upon sublimation of the ice crystals, generating new voids in the aggregates where ice nucleation can occur. Here we show that contrail-processed soot is highly compact but that it remains unable to form ice at a relative humidity different from that required for the formation of background cirrus from the more ubiquitous aqueous solution droplets, suggesting that it will not perturb cirrus cloud formation via ice nucleation.
Baptiste Testa, Lukas Durdina, Peter A. Alpert, Fabian Mahrt, Christopher H. Dreimol, Jacinta Edebeli, Curdin Spirig, Zachary C. J. Decker, Julien Anet, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 4537–4567, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4537-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4537-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Laboratory experiments on the ice nucleation of real commercial aviation soot particles are investigated for their cirrus cloud formation potential. Our results show that aircraft-emitted soot in the upper troposphere will be poor ice-nucleating particles. Measuring the soot particle morphology and modifying their mixing state allow us to elucidate why these particles are ineffective at forming ice, in contrast to previously used soot surrogates.
Anna J. Miller, Fabiola Ramelli, Christopher Fuchs, Nadja Omanovic, Robert Spirig, Huiying Zhang, Ulrike Lohmann, Zamin A. Kanji, and Jan Henneberger
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 601–625, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-601-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-601-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We present a method for aerosol and cloud research using two uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). The UAVs have a propeller heating mechanism that allows flights in icing conditions, which has so far been a limitation for cloud research with UAVs. One UAV burns seeding flares, producing a plume of particles that causes ice formation in supercooled clouds. The second UAV measures aerosol size distributions and is used for measuring the seeding plume or for characterizing the boundary layer.
Guangyu Li, Elise K. Wilbourn, Zezhen Cheng, Jörg Wieder, Allison Fagerson, Jan Henneberger, Ghislain Motos, Rita Traversi, Sarah D. Brooks, Mauro Mazzola, Swarup China, Athanasios Nenes, Ulrike Lohmann, Naruki Hiranuma, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10489–10516, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10489-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10489-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In this work, we present results from an Arctic field campaign (NASCENT) in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, on the abundance, variability, physicochemical properties, and potential sources of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) relevant for mixed-phase cloud formation. This work improves the data coverage of Arctic INPs and aerosol properties, allowing for the validation of models predicting cloud microphysical and radiative properties of mixed-phase clouds in the rapidly warming Arctic.
Dimitri Castarède, Zoé Brasseur, Yusheng Wu, Zamin A. Kanji, Markus Hartmann, Lauri Ahonen, Merete Bilde, Markku Kulmala, Tuukka Petäjä, Jan B. C. Pettersson, Berko Sierau, Olaf Stetzer, Frank Stratmann, Birgitta Svenningsson, Erik Swietlicki, Quynh Thu Nguyen, Jonathan Duplissy, and Erik S. Thomson
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 3881–3899, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-3881-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-3881-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds play a key role in Earth’s climate by influencing the surface energy budget. Certain types of atmospheric aerosols, called ice-nucleating particles (INPs), induce the formation of ice in clouds and, thus, often initiate precipitation formation. The Portable Ice Nucleation Chamber 2 (PINCii) is a new instrument developed to study ice formation and to conduct ambient measurements of INPs, allowing us to investigate the sources and properties of the atmospheric aerosols that can act as INPs.
Adriana Bailey, Franziska Aemisegger, Leonie Villiger, Sebastian A. Los, Gilles Reverdin, Estefanía Quiñones Meléndez, Claudia Acquistapace, Dariusz B. Baranowski, Tobias Böck, Sandrine Bony, Tobias Bordsdorff, Derek Coffman, Simon P. de Szoeke, Christopher J. Diekmann, Marina Dütsch, Benjamin Ertl, Joseph Galewsky, Dean Henze, Przemyslaw Makuch, David Noone, Patricia K. Quinn, Michael Rösch, Andreas Schneider, Matthias Schneider, Sabrina Speich, Bjorn Stevens, and Elizabeth J. Thompson
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 465–495, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-465-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-465-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
One of the novel ways EUREC4A set out to investigate trade wind clouds and their coupling to the large-scale circulation was through an extensive network of isotopic measurements in water vapor, precipitation, and seawater. Samples were taken from the island of Barbados, from aboard two aircraft, and from aboard four ships. This paper describes the full collection of EUREC4A isotopic in situ data and guides readers to complementary remotely sensed water vapor isotope ratios.
Fabian Mahrt, Carolin Rösch, Kunfeng Gao, Christopher H. Dreimol, Maria A. Zawadowicz, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1285–1308, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1285-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1285-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Major aerosol types emitted by biomass burning include soot, ash, and charcoal particles. Here, we investigated the ice nucleation activity of 400 nm size-selected particles of two different pyrolyis-derived charcoal types in the mixed phase and cirrus cloud regime. We find that ice nucleation is constrained to cirrus cloud conditions, takes place via pore condensation and freezing, and is largely governed by the particle porosity and mineral content.
Guangyu Li, Jörg Wieder, Julie T. Pasquier, Jan Henneberger, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 14441–14454, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-14441-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-14441-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The concentration of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) is atmospherically relevant for primary ice formation in clouds. In this work, from 12 weeks of field measurement data in the Arctic, we developed a new parameterization to predict INP concentrations applicable for pristine background conditions based only on temperature. The INP parameterization could improve the cloud microphysical representation in climate models, aiding in Arctic climate predictions.
Florin N. Isenrich, Nadia Shardt, Michael Rösch, Julia Nette, Stavros Stavrakis, Claudia Marcolli, Zamin A. Kanji, Andrew J. deMello, and Ulrike Lohmann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 5367–5381, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5367-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5367-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Ice nucleation in the atmosphere influences cloud properties and lifetimes. Microfluidic instruments have recently been used to investigate ice nucleation, but these instruments are typically made out of a polymer that contributes to droplet instability over extended timescales and relatively high temperature uncertainty. To address these drawbacks, we develop and validate a new microfluidic instrument that uses fluoropolymer tubing to extend droplet stability and improve temperature accuracy.
Jörg Wieder, Nikola Ihn, Claudia Mignani, Moritz Haarig, Johannes Bühl, Patric Seifert, Ronny Engelmann, Fabiola Ramelli, Zamin A. Kanji, Ulrike Lohmann, and Jan Henneberger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 9767–9797, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9767-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-9767-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Ice formation and its evolution in mixed-phase clouds are still uncertain. We evaluate the lidar retrieval of ice-nucleating particle concentration in dust-dominated and continental air masses over the Swiss Alps with in situ observations. A calibration factor to improve the retrieval from continental air masses is proposed. Ice multiplication factors are obtained with a new method utilizing remote sensing. Our results indicate that secondary ice production occurs at temperatures down to −30 °C.
Cyril Brunner, Benjamin T. Brem, Martine Collaud Coen, Franz Conen, Martin Steinbacher, Martin Gysel-Beer, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7557–7573, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7557-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7557-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Microscopic particles called ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are essential for ice crystals to form in clouds. INPs are a tiny proportion of atmospheric aerosol, and their abundance is poorly constrained. We study how the concentration of INPs changes diurnally and seasonally at a mountaintop station in central Europe. Unsurprisingly, a diurnal cycle is only found when considering air masses that have had lower-altitude ground contact. The highest INP concentrations occur in spring.
Cuiqi Zhang, Zhijun Wu, Jingchuan Chen, Jie Chen, Lizi Tang, Wenfei Zhu, Xiangyu Pei, Shiyi Chen, Ping Tian, Song Guo, Limin Zeng, Min Hu, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7539–7556, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7539-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7539-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The immersion ice nucleation effectiveness of aerosols from multiple sources in the urban environment remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that the immersion ice-nucleating particle (INP) concentration increased dramatically during a dust event in an urban atmosphere. Pollutant aerosols, including inorganic salts formed through secondary transformation (SIA) and black carbon (BC), might not act as effective INPs under mixed-phase cloud conditions.
Kunfeng Gao, Chong-Wen Zhou, Eszter J. Barthazy Meier, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5331–5364, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5331-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5331-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Incomplete combustion of fossil fuel produces carbonaceous particles called soot. These particles can affect cloud formation by acting as centres for droplet or ice formation. The atmospheric residence time of soot particles is of the order of days to weeks, which can result in them becoming coated by various trace species in the atmosphere such as acids. In this study, we quantify the cirrus cloud-forming ability of soot particles coated with the atmospherically ubiquitous sulfuric acid.
Zoé Brasseur, Dimitri Castarède, Erik S. Thomson, Michael P. Adams, Saskia Drossaart van Dusseldorp, Paavo Heikkilä, Kimmo Korhonen, Janne Lampilahti, Mikhail Paramonov, Julia Schneider, Franziska Vogel, Yusheng Wu, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Nina S. Atanasova, Dennis H. Bamford, Barbara Bertozzi, Matthew Boyer, David Brus, Martin I. Daily, Romy Fösig, Ellen Gute, Alexander D. Harrison, Paula Hietala, Kristina Höhler, Zamin A. Kanji, Jorma Keskinen, Larissa Lacher, Markus Lampimäki, Janne Levula, Antti Manninen, Jens Nadolny, Maija Peltola, Grace C. E. Porter, Pyry Poutanen, Ulrike Proske, Tobias Schorr, Nsikanabasi Silas Umo, János Stenszky, Annele Virtanen, Dmitri Moisseev, Markku Kulmala, Benjamin J. Murray, Tuukka Petäjä, Ottmar Möhler, and Jonathan Duplissy
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5117–5145, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5117-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5117-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The present measurement report introduces the ice nucleation campaign organized in Hyytiälä, Finland, in 2018 (HyICE-2018). We provide an overview of the campaign settings, and we describe the measurement infrastructure and operating procedures used. In addition, we use results from ice nucleation instrument inter-comparison to show that the suite of these instruments deployed during the campaign reports consistent results.
Kunfeng Gao, Franz Friebel, Chong-Wen Zhou, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4985–5016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4985-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4985-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Soot particles impact cloud formation and radiative properties in the upper atmosphere where aircraft emit carbonaceous particles. We use cloud chambers to mimic the upper atmosphere temperature and humidity to test the influence of the morphology of the soot particles on ice cloud formation. For particles larger than 200 nm, the compacted (densified) samples have a higher affinity for ice crystal formation in the cirrus regime than the fluffy (un-compacted) soot particles of the same sample.
Jörg Wieder, Claudia Mignani, Mario Schär, Lucie Roth, Michael Sprenger, Jan Henneberger, Ulrike Lohmann, Cyril Brunner, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3111–3130, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3111-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3111-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the variation in ice-nucleating particles (INPs) relevant for primary ice formation in mixed-phased clouds over the Alps based on simultaneous in situ observations at a mountaintop and a nearby high valley (1060 m height difference). In most cases, advection from the surrounding lower regions was responsible for changes in INP concentration, causing a diurnal cycle at the mountaintop. Our study underlines the importance of the planetary boundary layer as an INP reserve.
Cyril Brunner, Benjamin T. Brem, Martine Collaud Coen, Franz Conen, Maxime Hervo, Stephan Henne, Martin Steinbacher, Martin Gysel-Beer, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 18029–18053, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18029-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-18029-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Special microscopic particles called ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are essential for ice crystals to form in the atmosphere. INPs are sparse and their atmospheric concentration and properties are not well understood. Mineral dust particles make up a significant fraction of INPs but how much remains unknown. Here, we address this knowledge gap by studying periods when mineral particles are present in large quantities at a mountaintop station in central Europe.
Larissa Lacher, Hans-Christian Clemen, Xiaoli Shen, Stephan Mertes, Martin Gysel-Beer, Alireza Moallemi, Martin Steinbacher, Stephan Henne, Harald Saathoff, Ottmar Möhler, Kristina Höhler, Thea Schiebel, Daniel Weber, Jann Schrod, Johannes Schneider, and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 16925–16953, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-16925-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-16925-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate ice-nucleating particle properties at Jungfraujoch during the 2017 joint INUIT/CLACE field campaign, to improve the knowledge about those rare particles in a cloud-relevant environment. By quantifying ice-nucleating particles in parallel to single-particle mass spectrometry measurements, we find that mineral dust and aged sea spray particles are potential candidates for ice-nucleating particles. Our findings are supported by ice residual analysis and source region modeling.
Paraskevi Georgakaki, Aikaterini Bougiatioti, Jörg Wieder, Claudia Mignani, Fabiola Ramelli, Zamin A. Kanji, Jan Henneberger, Maxime Hervo, Alexis Berne, Ulrike Lohmann, and Athanasios Nenes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 10993–11012, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10993-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10993-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol and cloud observations coupled with a droplet activation parameterization was used to investigate the aerosol–cloud droplet link in alpine mixed-phase clouds. Predicted droplet number, Nd, agrees with observations and never exceeds a characteristic “limiting droplet number”, Ndlim, which depends solely on σw. Nd becomes velocity limited when it is within 50 % of Ndlim. Identifying when dynamical changes control Nd variability is central for understanding aerosol–cloud interactions.
Claudia Mignani, Jörg Wieder, Michael A. Sprenger, Zamin A. Kanji, Jan Henneberger, Christine Alewell, and Franz Conen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 657–664, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-657-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-657-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Most precipitation above land starts with ice in clouds. It is promoted by extremely rare particles. Some ice-nucleating particles (INPs) cause cloud droplets to already freeze above −15°C, a temperature at which many clouds begin to snow. We found that the abundance of such INPs among other particles of similar size is highest in precipitating air masses and lowest when air carries desert dust. This brings us closer to understanding the interactions between land, clouds, and precipitation.
Cyril Brunner and Zamin A. Kanji
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 269–293, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-269-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-269-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Subvisual microscopic particles in the atmosphere are needed to act as seeds for cloud droplets or ice crystals to form. The microscopic particles, called ice-nucleating particles (INPs), form ice crystals and are rare, and their properties are not well understood, in part because measuring them is challenging and time consuming, and to date has not been automated. Here, we present the first online instrument that can continuously and autonomously measure INP concentration at 243 K.
Cited articles
Ansys, Inc.: Ansys Mechanical APDL Element Reference, Release 2025R1, https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/public/account/secured?returnurl=//////Views/Secured/corp/v251/en/ans_elem/Hlp_E_ElemTOC.html (last access: 30 September 2025), 2025.
Brechtel, F. J. and Kreidenweis, S. M.: Predicting particle critical supersaturation from hygroscopic growth measurements in the humidified TDMA. Part I: Theory and sensitivity studies, J. Atmos. Sci., 57, 1854–1871, 2000.
Brunner, C. and Kanji, Z. A.: Continuous online monitoring of ice-nucleating particles: development of the automated Horizontal Ice Nucleation Chamber (HINC-Auto), Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 269–293, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-269-2021, 2021.
Cheng, M. and Kuwata, M.: Development of the low-temperature hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (Low-T HTDMA) and its application to (NH4)2SO4 and NaCl particles, J. Aerosol Sci., 168, 106111, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2022.106111, 2023.
Clegg, S. L., Qiu, C., and Zhang, R.: The deliquescence behaviour, solubilities, and densities of aqueous solutions of five methyl- and ethyl-aminium sulphate salts, Atmos. Environ., 73, 145–158, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.02.036, 2013.
Corrigan, C. E. and Novakov, T.: Cloud condensation nucleus activity of organic compounds: a laboratory study, Atmos. Environ., 2661–2668, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(98)00310-0, 1999.
Cruz, C. N. and Pandis, S. N.: A study of the ability of pure secondary organic aerosol to act as cloud condensation nuclei, Atmos. Environ., 31, 2205–2214, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(97)00054-X, 1997.
Davies, J. F., Zuend, A., and Wilson, K. R.: Technical note: The role of evolving surface tension in the formation of cloud droplets, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 2933–2946, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2933-2019, 2019.
Fox, R. W., McDonald, A. T., and Mitchell, J. W.: Fox and McDonald's Introduction to Fluid Mechanics, 10th edn., John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 608 pp., ISBN 978-1-119-60376-4, 2020.
Frank, G. P., Dusek, U., and Andreae, M. O.: Technical Note: Characterization of a static thermal-gradient CCN counter, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 3071–3080, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-3071-2007, 2007.
Gérard, V., Nozière, B., Baduel, C., Fine, L., Frossard, A. A., and Cohen, R. C.: Anionic, Cationic, and Nonionic Surfactants in Atmospheric Aerosols from the Baltic Coast at Askö, Sweden: Implications for Cloud Droplet Activation, Environ Sci Technol, 50, 2974–2982, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b05809, 2016.
Gysel, M., Weingartner, E., and Baltensperger, U.: Hygroscopicity of aerosol particles at low temperatures. 2. Theoretical and experimental hygroscopic properties of laboratory generated aerosols, Environ. Sci. Technol., 36, 63–68, https://doi.org/10.1021/es010055g, 2002.
Hu, D., Topping, D., and McFiggans, G.: Measured particle water uptake enhanced by co-condensing vapours, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 14925–14937, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-14925-2018, 2018.
Hudson, J. G.: An Instantaneous CCN Spectrometer, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 6, 1055–1065, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1989)006<1055:AICS>2.0.CO;2, 1989.
Jiusto, J. E.: Aerosol and cloud microphysics measurements in Hawaii, Tellus, 19, 359–368, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusa.v19i3.9805, 1967.
Kaaden, N., Massling, A., Schladitz, A., Müller, T., Kandler, K., Schütz, L., Weinzierl, B., Petzold, A., Tesche, M., Leinert, S., Deutscher, C., Ebert, M., Weinbruch, S., and Wiedensohler, A.: State of mixing, shape factor, number size distribution, and hygroscopic growth of the Saharan anthropogenic and mineral dust aerosol at Tinfou, Morocco, Tellus B, 61, 51–63, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00388.x, 2009.
Knutson, E. O. and Whitby, K. T.: Aerosol Classification by Electric Mobility Apparatus, Theory, And Applications, Aerosol Sci., Pergamon Press Printed, 443–451, https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-8502(75)90060-9, 1975.
Köhler, H.: The nucleus in and the growth of hygroscopic droplets, Trans. Faraday Soc. , 32, 1152–1161, https://doi.org/10.1039/TF9363201152, 1936.
Kammermann, L., Gysel, M., Weingartner, E., Herich, H., Cziczo, D. J., Holst, T., Svenningsson, B., Arneth, A., and Baltensperger, U.: Subarctic atmospheric aerosol composition: 3. Measured and modeled properties of cloud condensation nuclei, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 115, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012447, 2010.
Lance, S., Medina, J., Smith, J., and Nenes, A.: Mapping the operation of the DMT continuous flow CCN counter, Aerosol Sci. Tech., 40, 242–254, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786820500543290, 2006.
Lee, S. H., Murphy, D. M., Thomson, D. S., and Middlebrook, A. M.: Chemical components of single particles measured with Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry (PALMS) during the Atlanta Supersite Project: Focus on organic/sulfate, lead, soot, and mineral particles, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 107, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000jd000011, 2002.
Murphy, D. M., Cziczo, D. J., Froyd, K. D., Hudson, P. K., Matthew, B. M., Middlebrook, A. M., Peltier, R. E., Sullivan, A., Thomson, D. S., and Weber, R. J.: Single-peptide mass spectrometry of tropospheric aerosol particles, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 111, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD007340, 2006.
Nenes, A., Chuang, P. Y., Flagan, R. C., and Seinfeld, J. H.: A theoretical analysis of cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) instruments, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 106, 3449–3474, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JD900614, 2001.
Ovadnevaite, J., Zuend, A., Laaksonen, A., Sanchez, K. J., Roberts, G., Ceburnis, D., Decesari, S., Rinaldi, M., Hodas, N., Facchini, M. C., Seinfeld, J. H., and O'Dowd, C.: Surface tension prevails over solute effect in organic-influenced cloud droplet activation, Nature, 546, 637–641, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature22806, 2017.
Pajunoja, A., Lambe, A. T., Hakala, J., Rastak, N., Cummings, M. J., Brogan, J. F., Hao, L., Paramonov, M., Hong, J., Prisle, N. L., Malila, J., Romakkaniemi, S., Lehtinen, K. E. J., Laaksonen, A., Kulmala, M., Massoli, P., Onasch, T. B., Donahue, N. M., Riipinen, I., Davidovits, P., Worsnop, D. R., Petäjä, T., and Virtanen, A.: Adsorptive uptake of water by semisolid secondary organic aerosols, Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 3063–3068, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL063142, 2015.
Pradeep Kumar, P., Broekhuizen, K., and Abbatt, J. P. D.: Organic acids as cloud condensation nuclei: Laboratory studies of highly soluble and insoluble species, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 3, 509–520, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-3-509-2003, 2003.
Renbaum-Wolff, L., Song, M., Marcolli, C., Zhang, Y., Liu, P. F., Grayson, J. W., Geiger, F. M., Martin, S. T., and Bertram, A. K.: Observations and implications of liquid–liquid phase separation at high relative humidities in secondary organic material produced by α-pinene ozonolysis without inorganic salts, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 7969–7979, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-7969-2016, 2016.
Roberts, G. C. and Nenes, A.: A continuous-flow streamwise thermal-gradient CCN chamber for atmospheric measurements, Aerosol Sci. Tech., 39, 206–221, https://doi.org/10.1080/027868290913988, 2005.
Rogers, D. C.: Development of a Continuous Flow Thermal Gradient Diffusion Chamber for Ice Nucleation Studies, Atmos. Res., Elsevier Science Publishers B.V, 149–181, https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-8095(88)90005-1, 1988.
Romakkaniemi, S., Jaatinen, A., Laaksonen, A., Nenes, A., and Raatikainen, T.: Ammonium nitrate evaporation and nitric acid condensation in DMT CCN counters, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 1377–1384, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1377-2014, 2014.
Rose, D., Gunthe, S. S., Mikhailov, E., Frank, G. P., Dusek, U., Andreae, M. O., and Pöschl, U.: Calibration and measurement uncertainties of a continuous-flow cloud condensation nuclei counter (DMT-CCNC): CCN activation of ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride aerosol particles in theory and experiment, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 1153–1179, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-8-1153-2008, 2008.
Sapkal, M. G., Rösch, M., and Kanji, Z. A.: Development of the Horizontal Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter (HCCNC) to detect particle activation down to 4 °C temperature and 0.05 % supersaturation, ETH Zürich Research Collection [data set], https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000749284, 2025.
Stetzer, O., Baschek, B., Lüönd, F., and Lohmann, U.: The Zurich Ice Nucleation Chamber (ZINC) – A new instrument to investigate atmospheric ice formation, Aerosol Sci. Tech., 42, 64–74, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786820701787944, 2008.
Tao, J., Kuang, Y., Luo, B., Liu, L., Xu, H., Ma, N., Liu, P., Xue, B., Zhai, M., Xu, W., Xu, W., and Sun, Y.: Kinetic Limitations Affect Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity Measurements Under Low Supersaturation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 50, e2022GL101603, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL101603, 2023.
Topping, D., Connolly, P., and Mcfiggans, G.: Cloud droplet number enhanced by co-condensation of organic vapours, Nat. Geosci., 6, 443–446, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1809, 2013.
Topping, D. O. and McFiggans, G.: Tight coupling of particle size, number and composition in atmospheric cloud droplet activation, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 3253–3260, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-3253-2012, 2012.
Vargaftik, N. B., Volkov, B. N., and Voljak, L. D.: International Tables of the Surface Tension of Water, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 12, 817–820, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.555688, 1983.
Wexler, A. S. and Clegg, S. L.: Atmospheric aerosol models for systems including the ions H+, NH
Whitehead, J. D., Irwin, M., Allan, J. D., Good, N., and McFiggans, G.: A meta-analysis of particle water uptake reconciliation studies, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 11833–11841, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-11833-2014, 2014.
Wu, Z. J., Nowak, A., Poulain, L., Herrmann, H., and Wiedensohler, A.: Hygroscopic behavior of atmospherically relevant water-soluble carboxylic salts and their influence on the water uptake of ammonium sulfate, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 12617–12626, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-12617-2011, 2011.
Zelenyuk, A. and Imre, D.: On the effect of particle alignment in the DMA, Aerosol Sci. Tech., 41, 112–124, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786820601118380, 2007.
Zelenyuk, A., Cai, Y., and Imre, D.: From Agglomerates of Spheres to Irregularly Shaped Particles: Determination of Dynamic Shape Factors from Measurements of Mobility and Vacuum Aerodynamic Diameters, Aerosol Sci. Tech., 40, 197–217, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786820500529406, 2006.
Short summary
The newly developed Horizontal Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter (HCCNC) is capable of generating supersaturation as low as 0.05 % at temperatures as low as 4 °C, allowing for the investigation of CCN activity of ammonium sulfate particles up to 200 nm diameter and ambient aerosol of larger diameter. The HCCNC could be used for low-temperature experiments where gas-phase partitioning into or out of the aerosol phase for semi-volatile compounds is relevant for CCN activity.
The newly developed Horizontal Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter (HCCNC) is capable of...
