Evidence for Anthropogenic Organic Aerosols Contributing to Ice Nucleation

The role of organic aerosols (OA) as ice nucleating particles (INPs) deserves attention because of their high atmospheric abundance. The low concentration of INPs poses challenges in identifying the ice nucleation (IN) of OA among a mix of aerosol types in ambient environment. This study coupled a catalytic stripper system (350 degrees C heating) with a continuous flow diffusion chamber to online investigate the immersion INPs of ambient particles at -30 degrees C at a suburban site. Significant reduction (71 +/- 25%) of INP concentrations after evaporation suggested that INPs can be significantly contributed by volatile OA. In addition, nonvolatile OA were more efficient INPs than black carbon. Oxygenated OA by photooxidation and lower ambient promoted the IN activity at noon, when the OA may be more viscous. These results hereby present the first field evidence that OA in anthropogenically influenced regions can be efficient INPs well above the homogeneous IN temperature.

Automated summary

This study provides field evidence that organic aerosols (OA) can be efficient ice nucleating particles (INPs) in anthropogenically influenced regions above the homogeneous ice nucleation temperature. Nonvolatile OA are more efficient as INPs than black carbon, and oxygenated OA by photooxidation and lower ambient temperature enhance their activity.