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UP: Fachverband Umweltphysik

UP 2: Clouds and Aerosols

UP 2.5: Talk

Thursday, September 2, 2021, 15:10–15:25, H3

A bird's eye view on the invisibile, unprecedented levels of ultrafine particles and the hydrological cycle — •Wolfgang Junkermann¹ and Jorg Hacker² — ¹Karlsruhe Institute of Technlogy, IMK-IFU — ²Airborne Research Australia, Parafield, SA

Airborne measurements from small, slow flying aircraft have been used to identify and characterize major sources of ultrafine particles (UFP) and to quantify their contribution to the global aerosol number budget. UFPs are relevant as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), with respect to size and number emission. State of the art fossil fuel flue gas cleaning techniques following clean air legislation are turning power stations into efficient UFP generators, doubling global primary number emissions. The subsequent enhancement of (CCN) modifies cloud microphysics, decreases droplet sizes and delays raindrop generation, suppressing certain types of rainfall, increasing cloud droplet evaporation and affecting the hydrological cycle. A subsequent transport of water vapour as latent energy into mid altitudes of the lower troposphere, in turn enhances torrential rain events, and via increased residence time of H2O in the atmosphere, might contribute to larger than regional scale climate warming through effects on the infrared radiation budget.