Inhibition of ice crystallisation

Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures ◭ ◮ ◭ ◮ Back Close Full Screen / Esc Abstract Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures ◭ ◮ ◭ ◮ Back Close Full Screen / Esc Abstract Homogeneous nucleation of ice within aqueous solution droplets and their subsequent crystallisation is thought to play a significant role in upper tropospheric ice cloud formation. It is normally assumed that homogeneous nucleation will take place at a threshold supersaturation, irrespective of the identity of the solute, and that rapid growth of ice 5 particles will follow immediately after nucleation. However, it is shown here through laboratory experiments that droplets may not readily freeze in the very cold tropical tropopause layer (TTL, typical temperatures of 186–200 K). In these experiments ice crystal growth in citric acid solution droplets did not occur when ice nucleated below 197±6 K. Citric acid, 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxyllic acid, is a molecule with 10 similar functionality to oxygenated organic compounds which are ubiquitous to atmospheric aerosol and is therefore thought to be a sensible proxy for atmospheric organic material. Evidence is presented that suggest citric acid solution droplets become ultra-viscous or perhaps even glassy under atmospherically relevant conditions. Diffusion of liquid water molecules to ice nuclei is expected to be very slow in ultra-viscous solution 15 droplets and this most likely provides an explanation for the experimentally observed inhibition of ice crystallisation. The implications of ultra-viscous solution droplets for ice cloud formation and supersaturations in the TTL are discussed.