Semi-empirical parameterization of size-dependent atmospheric nanoparticle growth in continental environments

The capability to accurately yet efficiently represent atmospheric nanoparticle growth by biogenic and anthropogenic secondary organics is a challenge for current atmospheric large-scale models. It is, however, crucial to predict nanoparticle growth accurately in order to reliably estimate the atmospheric cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations. In this work we introduce a simple semiempirical parameterization for sub-20 nm particle growth that distributes secondary organics to the nanoparticles according to their size and is therefore able to reproduce particle growth observed in the atmosphere. The parameterization includes particle growth by sulfuric acid, secondary organics from monoterpene oxidation (SORGMT) and an additional condensable vapor of non-monoterpene organics (“background”). The performance of the proposed parameterization was investigated using ambient data on particle growth rates in three diameter ranges (1.5–3 nm, 3–7 nm and 7–20 nm). The growth rate data were acquired from particle / air ion number size distribution measurements at six continental sites over Europe. The longest time series of 7 yr (2003–2009) was obtained from a boreal forest site in Hyytiälä, Finland, while about one year of data (2008– 2009) was used for the other stations. The extensive ambient measurements made it possible to test how well the parameterization captures the seasonal cycle observed in sub20 nm particle growth and to determine the weighing factors for distributing the SORGMT for different sized particles as well as the background mass flux (concentration). Besides the monoterpene oxidation products, background organics with a concentration comparable to SORGMT, around 6× 107 cm−3 (consistent with an additional global SOA yield of 100 Tg yr−1) was needed to reproduce the observed nanoparticle growth. Simulations with global models suggest that the “background” could be linked to secondary biogenic organics that are formed in the presence of anthropogenic pollution.