Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-438
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-438
28 Mar 2023
 | 28 Mar 2023

Impact of acidity and surface modulated acid dissociation on cloud response to organic aerosol

Gargi Sengupta, Minjie Zheng, and Nønne L. Prisle

Abstract. Dissociation of organic acids is currently not included in most atmospheric aerosol models. Organic dissociation in aqueous aerosols could alter the H+ concentrations and affect the cloud activating properties. We implemented a simple representation of organic dissociation in a box model version of the aerosol–chemistry–climate model ECHAM-HAMMOZ and investigated the impact on cloud droplet number concentrations and short-wave radiative effect through changes in kinetically driven sulfate concentrations in an aerosol population. Organic dissociation has been observed in X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy measurements to be significantly suppressed in the aqueous surface. We therefore additionally introduced an empirical account of this mechanism to explore the potential further impact on aerosol effects. Malonic acid and decanoic acid were used as proxies for atmospheric organic acid aerosols. Both acids were found to yield sufficient hydrogen ion concentrations from dissociation in an aqueous droplet population to strongly influence the sulfur chemistry, leading to enhanced cloud droplet number concentrations and a cooling short-wave radiative effect. Further considering surface modulated suppressed dissociation, the impact on cloud microphysics was smaller than according to the well-known bulk solution organic dissociation, but still significant. Our results show that organic aerosol acidity can significantly influence predictions of aerosol formation and aerosol-cloud-climate effects. Furthermore, it may be important to also consider the specific influence of surface effects, also in relation to bulk solution phenomena such as organic acid dissociation.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

31 Jan 2024
Impact of acidity and surface-modulated acid dissociation on cloud response to organic aerosol
Gargi Sengupta, Minjie Zheng, and Nønne L. Prisle
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1467–1487, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1467-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1467-2024, 2024
Short summary
Gargi Sengupta, Minjie Zheng, and Nønne L. Prisle

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-438', Anonymous Referee #1, 24 May 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-438', Anonymous Referee #2, 31 May 2023
  • AC1: 'Author Comment on egusphere-2023-438', Gargi Sengupta, 04 Oct 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-438', Anonymous Referee #1, 24 May 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-438', Anonymous Referee #2, 31 May 2023
  • AC1: 'Author Comment on egusphere-2023-438', Gargi Sengupta, 04 Oct 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Gargi Sengupta on behalf of the Authors (05 Oct 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (27 Oct 2023) by Jason Surratt
AR by Gargi Sengupta on behalf of the Authors (03 Nov 2023)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

31 Jan 2024
Impact of acidity and surface-modulated acid dissociation on cloud response to organic aerosol
Gargi Sengupta, Minjie Zheng, and Nønne L. Prisle
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1467–1487, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1467-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1467-2024, 2024
Short summary
Gargi Sengupta, Minjie Zheng, and Nønne L. Prisle
Gargi Sengupta, Minjie Zheng, and Nønne L. Prisle

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Latest update: 31 Jan 2024
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
The effect of organic acid aerosol on sulfur chemistry and cloud properties was investigated in an atmospheric model. Organic acid dissociation was considered using both bulk and surface related properties. We found that organic acid dissociation leads to increased hydrogen ion concentrations and sulfate aerosol mass in aqueous aerosols, increasing cloud formation. This could be important in large scale climate models as many organic aerosol components are both acidic and surface-active.