Size distribution and chemical composition of primary particles emitted during open biomass burning processes: Impacts on cloud condensation nuclei activation

As a major source of fine particles, open biomass burning can affect climate and the hydrological cycle via the formation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and their deposition. This study investigated the effect of aerosol size and chemical composition (water-soluble compounds, elemental carbon, and organic carbon) on CCN activation during the complete combustion of six commonly used crop (rice, wheat, corn, soybean, and cotton) and leaf residues in a simulation chamber developed for this study. Geometric mean diameters (GMD) of emitted primary particles ranged from 68 to 130 nm and water-soluble compound (WSC) content ranged from 33 to 50%. Although GMDs and WSCs possessed similar temporal tendencies during the combustion process, their average values were dependent on the type of biomass. Number concentration ratios of CCN and particle (CCN/CN) ranged from 1.4-2.1% and 5.8-8.3% at supersaturations of 0.2% and 1.0%, respectively. The CCN/CN value increased during the combustion process when the GMD and WSC content increased. Correlation coefficients for GMD and CCN activation ranged from 0.62 to 0.93, while correlations for WSC and CCN activation ranged from 0.33 to 0.95. Soybean biomass had the highest correlations for both GMD and WSC with CCN activation at various supersaturations. These results suggest that the size and chemical composition of biomass aerosols are important in CCN formation, while the aerosol size has a higher impact. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.