1. Regional new particle formation as modulators of cloud condensation nuclei and cloud droplet number in the eastern MediterraneanPanayiotis Kalkavouras, Aikaterini Bougiatioti, Nikos Kalivitis, Iasonas Stavroulas, Maria Tombrou, Athanasios Nenes, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: A significant fraction of atmospheric particles that serve as cloud
condensation nuclei (CCN) are thought to originate from the condensational
growth of new particle formation (NPF) from the gas phase. Here, 7 years of
continuous aerosol and meteorological measurements (June 2008 to May 2015)
at a remote background site of the eastern Mediterranean were recorded and
analyzed to assess the impact of NPF (of 162 episodes identified) on CCN and
cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) formation in the region. A new
metric is introduced to quantitatively determine the initiation and duration
of the influence of NPF on the CCN spectrum. NPF days were found to increase
CCN concentrations (from 0.10 % to 1.00 % supersaturation) between 29 %
and 77 %. Enhanced CCN concentrations from NPF are mostly observed, as
expected, under low preexisting particle concentrations and occur in the
afternoon, relatively later in the winter and autumn than in the summer.
Potential impacts of NPF on cloud formation were quantified by introducing
the observed aerosol size distributions and chemical composition into an
established cloud droplet parameterization. We find that the
supersaturations that develop are very low (ranging between 0.03 % and
0.27 %) for typical boundary layer dynamics (σw
∼0.3 m s−1) and NPF is found to enhance CDNC by a modest
13 %. This considerable contrast between CCN and CDNC response is in part
from the different supersaturation levels considered, but also because
supersaturation drops from increasing CCN because of water vapor competition
effects during the process of droplet formation. The low cloud
supersaturation further delays the appearance of NPF impacts on CDNC to
clouds formed in the late evening and nighttime – which has important
implications for the extent and types of indirect effects induced by NPF
events. An analysis based on CCN concentrations using prescribed
supersaturation can provide very different, even misleading, conclusions and
should therefore be avoided. The proposed approach here offers a simple, yet
highly effective way for a more realistic impact assessment of NPF events on
cloud formation. Keywords: regional NPF, CCN, cloud droplets, Eastern Mediterranean, regional background Published in RUNG: 13.05.2024; Views: 960; Downloads: 5 Full text (3,07 MB) This document has many files! More... |
2. Telescope Array Cloud Ranging TestT. Okuda, Jon Paul Lundquist, 2022, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The Telescope Array (TA) experiment detects air-showers induced by ultra high energy cosmic rays. The TA atmospheric Fluorescence telescopic Detector(TAFD) observes cosmic ray airshower, which is incident very far from the telescope. The observation does not take place in overcast night. However, the cloud status changes quickly and sometimes there are some isolated clouds. If the cloud is behind the airshower as viewed from the TAFD, the cloud presents no problem for airshower reconstruction. However if the cloud obscures the airshower, it does create a problem for airshower reconstruction. The problematic event can be rejected by airshower profile at reconstruction. However, the estimation of exposure with isolated cloud is difficult. And it should be affected more at higher energy event with relatively further from the telescope, which is lower statistics and more important for the ultra high energy cosmic ray physics. Therefore, to test the method for evaluating the correction of exposure, we installed stereo cloud cameras near one of FD sites. I report the status of the study of the Telescope Array Cloud Ranging Test. Keywords: Telescope Array, indirect detection, fluorescence detection, cerenkov light, ultra-high energy, cosmic rays, atmosphere, cloud detection, exposure, air shower reconstruction Published in RUNG: 04.10.2023; Views: 2103; Downloads: 8 Full text (5,81 MB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Satellite Data for Atmospheric Monitoring at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryA. Puyleart, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2022, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: Atmospheric monitoring over the 3000 km^2 of the Pierre Auger Observatory can be supplemented by satellite data. Methods for night-time cloud detection and aerosol cross-checking were created using the GOES-16 and Aeolus satellites, respectively. The geostationary GOES-16 satellite provides a 100% up-time view of the cloud cover over the observatory. GOES-13 was used until the end of 2017 for cloud monitoring, but with its retirement a method based on GOES-16 data was developed. The GOES-16 cloud detection method matches the observatory’s vertical laser cloud detection method at a rate of ∼90%. The Aeolus satellite crosses the Pierre Auger Observatory several times throughout the year firing UV-laser shots. The laser beams leave a track of scattered light in the atmosphere that can be observed by the light sensors of the observatory fluorescence telescopes. Using a parametric model of the aerosol concentration, the laser shots can be reconstructed with different combinations of the aerosol parameters. A minimization procedure then yields the parameter set that best describes the aerosol attenuation. Furthermore, the possibility of studying horizontal homogeneity of aerosols across the array is being investigated. Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, indirect detection, fluorescence detection, ultra-high energy, cosmic rays, atmospheric monitoring, satellite monitoring, cloud detection, aerosols, UV laser shots Published in RUNG: 04.10.2023; Views: 1823; Downloads: 7 Full text (2,92 MB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to TeV photon emission from the Large Magellanic CloudA. Acharyya, R. Adam, Saptashwa Bhattacharyya, Samo Stanič, Veronika Vodeb, Serguei Vorobiov, Gabrijela Zaharijas, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Miha Živec, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: A deep survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud at ∼ 0.1−100 TeV photon energies with the Cherenkov Telescope Array is planned.
We assess the detection prospects based on a model for the emission of the galaxy, comprising the four known TeV emitters,
mock populations of sources, and interstellar emission on galactic scales. We also assess the detectability of 30 Doradus and SN 1987A, and the constraints that can be derived on the nature of dark matter. The survey will allow for fine spectral studies of N 157B, N 132D, LMC P3, and 30 Doradus C, and half a dozen other sources should be revealed, mainly pulsar-powered
objects. The remnant from SN 1987A could be detected if it produces cosmic-ray nuclei with a flat power-law spectrum at high energies, or with a steeper index 2.3−2.4 pending a flux increase by a factor > 3−4 over ∼ 2015−2035. Large-scale interstellar emission remains mostly out of reach of the survey if its > 10 GeV spectrum has a soft photon index ∼ 2.7, but degree-scale 0.1 − 10 TeV pion-decay emission could be detected if the cosmic-ray spectrum hardens above >100 GeV. The 30 Doradus star-forming region is detectable if acceleration efficiency is on the order of 1 − 10% of the mechanical luminosity and diffusion is suppressed by two orders of magnitude within < 100 pc. Finally, the survey could probe the canonical velocity-averaged cross section for self-annihilation of weakly interacting massive particles for cuspy Navarro-Frenk-White profiles. Keywords: very-high energy (VHE) gamma-rays, Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, Large Magellanic Cloud, pulsar wind nebulas, galaxiesstar-forming regions, cosmic rays, dark matter Published in RUNG: 02.06.2023; Views: 2331; Downloads: 4 Full text (3,66 MB) |
5. The impact of cloudiness and cloud type on the atmospheric heating rate of black and brown carbon in the Po ValleyLuca Ferrero, Asta Gregorič, Griša Močnik, Martin Rigler, Sergio Cogliati, Francesca Barnaba, Luca Di Liberto, Gian Paolo Gobbi, Niccolò Losi, Ezio Bolzacchini, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: We experimentally quantified the impact of cloud fraction and cloud type on the heating rate (HR) of black and brown carbon (HRBC and HRBrC). In particular, we examined in more detail the cloud effect on the HR detected in a previous study (Ferrero et al., 2018). High-time-resolution measurements of the aerosol absorption coefficient at multiple wavelengths were coupled with spectral measurements of the direct, diffuse and surface reflected irradiance and with lidar–ceilometer data during a field campaign in Milan, Po Valley (Italy). The experimental set-up allowed for a direct determination of the total HR (and its speciation: HRBC and HRBrC) in all-sky conditions (from clear-sky conditions to cloudy). The highest total HR values were found in the middle of winter (1.43 ± 0.05 K d−1), and the lowest were in spring (0.54 ± 0.02 K d−1). Overall, the HRBrC accounted for 13.7 ± 0.2 % of the total HR, with the BrC being characterized by an absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) of 3.49 ± 0.01. To investigate the role of clouds, sky conditions were classified in terms of cloudiness (fraction of the sky covered by clouds: oktas) and cloud type (stratus, St; cumulus, Cu; stratocumulus, Sc; altostratus, As; altocumulus, Ac; cirrus, Ci; and cirrocumulus–cirrostratus, Cc–Cs). During the campaign, clear-sky conditions were present 23 % of the time, with the remaining time (77 %) being characterized by cloudy conditions. The average cloudiness was 3.58 ± 0.04 oktas (highest in February at 4.56 ± 0.07 oktas and lowest in November at 2.91 ± 0.06 oktas). St clouds were mostly responsible for overcast conditions (7–8 oktas, frequency of 87 % and 96 %); Sc clouds dominated the intermediate cloudiness conditions (5–6 oktas, frequency of 47 % and 66 %); and the transition from Cc–Cs to Sc determined moderate cloudiness (3–4 oktas); finally, low cloudiness (1–2 oktas) was mostly dominated by Ci and Cu (frequency of 59 % and 40 %, respectively).
HR measurements showed a constant decrease with increasing cloudiness of the atmosphere, enabling us to quantify for the first time the bias (in %) of the aerosol HR introduced by the simplified assumption of clear-sky conditions in radiative-transfer model calculations. Our results showed that the HR of light-absorbing aerosol was ∼ 20 %–30 % lower in low cloudiness (1–2 oktas) and up to 80 % lower in completely overcast conditions (i.e. 7–8 oktas) compared to clear-sky ones. This means that, in the simplified assumption of clear-sky conditions, the HR of light-absorbing aerosol can be largely overestimated (by 50 % in low cloudiness, 1–2 oktas, and up to 500 % in completely overcast conditions, 7–8 oktas).
The impact of different cloud types on the HR was also investigated. Cirrus clouds were found to have a modest impact, decreasing the HRBC and HRBrC by −5 % at most. Cumulus clouds decreased the HRBC and HRBrC by −31 ± 12 % and −26 ± 7 %, respectively; cirrocumulus–cirrostratus clouds decreased the HRBC and HRBrC by −60 ± 8 % and −54 ± 4 %, which was comparable to the impact of altocumulus (−60 ± 6 % and −46 ± 4 %). A higher impact on the HRBC and HRBrC suppression was found for stratocumulus (−63 ± 6 % and −58 ± 4 %, respectively) and altostratus (−78 ± 5 % and −73 ± 4 %, respectively). The highest impact was associated with stratus, suppressing the HRBC and HRBrC by −85 ± 5 % and −83 ± 3 %, respectively. The presence of clouds caused a decrease of both the HRBC and HRBrC (normalized to the absorption coefficient of the respective species) of −11.8 ± 1.2 % and −12.6 ± 1.4 % per okta. This study highlights the need to take into account the role of both cloudiness and different cloud types when estimating the HR caused by both BC and BrC and in turn decrease the uncertainties associated with the quantification of their impact on the climate. Keywords: black carbon, brown carbon, cloud, atmospheric heating rate, climate change Published in RUNG: 29.03.2021; Views: 3289; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
6. Impact of bacterial ice nucleating particles on weather predicted by a numerical weather prediction modelMaher Sahyoun, Ulrik S. Korsholm, Jens H. Sørensen, Tina Šantl Temkiv, Kai Finster, Ulrich Gosewinkel, Niels Woetmann Nielsen, 2017, original scientific article Keywords: Heterogeneous ice nucleation, Bacterial INP, Cloud ice, Precipitation, Global solar radiation, Numerical weather prediction model Published in RUNG: 04.01.2021; Views: 3872; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
7. The microbial diversity of a storm cloud as assessed by hailstonesTina Šantl Temkiv, Kai Finster, Bjarne Munk Hansen, Niels Woetmann Nilesen, Ulrich Gosewinkel Karlson, 2012, original scientific article Keywords: cloud-borne bacteria, bacterial diversity, species richness, species evenness, atmospheric chemistry, biogeography Published in RUNG: 04.01.2021; Views: 3284; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
8. Hailstones: A Window into the Microbial and Chemical Inventory of a Storm CloudTina Šantl Temkiv, Kai Finster, Thorsten Dittman, Bjarne Munk Hansen, Runar Thyrhaug, Niels Woetmann Nielsen, Ulrich Gosewinkel, 2013, original scientific article Keywords: atmospheric bacteria, atmospheric DOM, cloud microbiota, microbial activity Published in RUNG: 04.01.2021; Views: 3486; Downloads: 68 Full text (402,78 KB) |
9. Highly Sensitive Determination of Pyoverdine in Cloud Water by HPLC-Thermal Lens SpectrometryLeja Goljat, Mitja Martelanc, Virginie Vinatier, Anne-Marie Delort, Mladen Franko, 2016, published scientific conference contribution abstract Abstract: New method for pyoverdine and Fe(III)-pyoverdine detection was developed. Two isomers of pyoverdine and two isomers of Fe(III)-pyoverdine were separated isocraticaly on reversed-phase (RP)-C18 chromatograhic column and detected by DAD, FLD and TLS. HPLC-TLS method enables separation and determination of pyoverdine and Fe(III)-pyoverdine in a single run and excels in superior sensitivities when compared to conventional HPLC-DAD system. Keywords: Pyoverdine, Fe(III)-pyoverdine, cloud water, high-performance liquid chromatography, thermal lens spectrometry Published in RUNG: 04.07.2016; Views: 6547; Downloads: 0 |