Particle Size Magnifier for Fundamental Nucleation Studies

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Atmospheric nucleation processes have a major influence upon the number concentration and ultimately the size distribution of airborne particulate matter. Although newly nucleated particles are extremely small, they grow by condensation and may ultimately enter the size range where they are active as cloud condensation nuclei. Consequently, after growth they can play a role in cloud formation and thereby influence global climate. They also contribute to the aerosol direct effect through light absorption and scattering. Such processes are included in global climate models but research is always striving to provide better descriptions of such processes with a base in fundamental knowledge. Airborne particulate matter also has well-recognised adverse effects upon human health. It is widely believed that nanoparticles are of higher toxicity per unit mass than large particles of the same material and consequently the nucleation process which leads to nanoparticle formation in the atmosphere is of interest as a contributor to the atmospheric nanoparticle fraction. Nucleation processes can lead to massively high particle number concentrations whose impact for human health is currently unknown. By enhancing the understanding of atmospheric nucleation processes at a fundamental level, this research will contribute to a more reliable predictions of future climate change and an enhanced understanding of the impact of particulate matter exposure on human health. The direct beneficiaries are therefore government departments (Defra, Department of Health, DECC) and international organisations (IPCC, WMO, WHO).