Evidence of new particle formation during post monsoon season over a high-altitude site of the Western Ghats, India. Issue 4 (21st April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leena, Parakkatt Parambil; Anil Kumar, Vasudevan; Dani, Kundan. K.; Sombawne, Sunil. M.; Murugavel, Palani; Pandithurai, Govindan
• Is Part Of: Toxicological and environmental chemistry. Volume 99:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 652
• Page End: 664
• Publication Date: 2017-04-21
• Subjects: New particle formation -- high-altitude site -- number distribution -- growth rate -- comparison; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 571.95
• DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2016.1274031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-2248

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The formation of ultrafine particles, their growth, and associated characteristic features has been studied during new particle formation events over a high-altitude station of the Western Ghats during the 2014 post-monsoon season. Most of the events were observed during noon time where particle bursts in the nucleation-mode size range from 5 to 25 nm followed by sustained growth in size. This phenomenon persists for ∼4–8 h with a growth rate of 1–2 nm h – 1 . Peak concentrations of nucleation-mode particles during the event generally vary from 2300 to 5000 cm – 3 . The mean growth rate is 1.4 ± 0.42 nm h – 1, particle formation rate is 1.14 ± 0.22 cm – 3 s – 1, coagulation sink is 0.35 ± 0.22 cm – 3 s – 1, and condensational sink is 15.4 ± 2.6 × 10 – 3 s – 1 . All these values are comparable with earlier results from Indian region. Comparison of size-segregated particle number concentration during days of new particle formation events and those without new particle formation were carried out showing a distinct variation in nucleation and Aitken mode with least variability associated with the accumulation mode.