The contribution of sulphuric acid to atmospheric particle formation and growth: a comparison between boundary layers in Northern and Central Europe.

Abstract

During the EU-project QUEST atmospheric gaseous sulphuric acid was measured and its influence on particle formation and growth was investigated building on aerosol data at two measurement sites (Hyytiälä, Finland, March–April 2003 and Heidelberg, Germany, March–April 2004). From a comprehensive data set including particle number size distributions, sulphuric acid, and meteorological data, particle growth rates, particle formation rates and source rates of condensable vapors were calculated. Growth rates were determined in two different ways, from particle size distributions as well as from a so-called timeshift analysis. Moreover, correlations between sulphuric acid and particle number concentration between 3 and 6 nm were examined.