Parameterization of the influence of organic surfactants on aerosol activation

Surface-active organic compounds, or surfactants, can affect aerosol activation by two mechanisms: lowering surface tension and altering the bulk hygroscopicity of the particles. A numerical model has been developed to predict the activation of aerosol particles consisting of an internally uniform chemical mixture of organic surfactants and inorganic salts in a parcel of air rising adiabatically at constant speed. Equations reflecting water balance of the air parcel were used together with a modified form of Kohler theory to model droplet nucleation while considering surface effects. We also extend a parametric representation of aerosol activation to the case of a mixture of inorganic salts and organic surfactants by modifying the Raoult term in Kohler theory (assuming additive behavior) and using a simplified relationship between surface tension and surfactant molar concentration to account for surface effects at the critical radius for activation. The close agreement (to within 10% for most and 20% for almost all conditions) between numerical and parametric results validates our modifications. Moreover, the form of the relationship is identical to an empirical relationship between surface tension and organic carbon concentration. Thus the modified form of the parameterization provides a framework that can account for the influence of observed organics on the activation of other salts. The modified form of the parameterization is tested successfully with the Po Valley model both for single aerosol size distribution and three-mode size distributions for marine, rural, and urban aerosols. Further measurements are required to extend the parameterization to other organic surfactants.