Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1873
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1873
19 May 2025
 | 19 May 2025

An improved Freezing Ice Nucleation Detection Analyzer (FINDA) for droplet immersion freezing measurement

Kaiqi Wang, Kai Bi, Shuling Chen, Markus Hartmann, Zhijun Wu, Jiyu Gao, Xiaoyu Xu, Yuhan Cheng, Mengyu Huang, Yunbo Chen, Huiwen Xue, Bingbing Wang, Yaqiong Hu, Xiongying Zhang, Xincheng Ma, Ruijie Li, Ping Tian, Ottmar Möhler, Heike Wex, Frank Startmann, Jie Chen, and Xianda Gong

Abstract. Heterogeneous ice nucleation initiated by atmospheric ice-nucleating particles (INPs) is a key microphysical process for cloud formation. Detecting the ice nucleation ability (INA) and concentration of INPs is essential for improving global climate models. Droplet freezing techniques (DFTs) are among the widely used tools for measuring the immersion freezing of INPs, which is a predominant ice nucleation process in mixed-phase clouds. To enhance the efficiency and accuracy of DFTs, we developed a Freezing Ice Nucleation Detection Analyzer at Westlake University (FINDA-WLU) with an improved hardware setup, user-friendly software, precise droplet freezing detection, and rigorous temperature calibrations. The temperature uncertainty of FINDA-WLU is about ±0.60 °C, considering both vertical heat transfer efficiency and horizontal temperature heterogeneity. The system is tested with Milli-Q ultrapure water and reference materials like Arizona Test Dust and Snomax®, and the results are consistent with previous studies. We also use the FINDA-WLU to measure INPs in precipitation samples collected in China. Overall, FINDA-WLU proved to be a reliable and precise method for measuring INA and INP concentrations.

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Kaiqi Wang, Kai Bi, Shuling Chen, Markus Hartmann, Zhijun Wu, Jiyu Gao, Xiaoyu Xu, Yuhan Cheng, Mengyu Huang, Yunbo Chen, Huiwen Xue, Bingbing Wang, Yaqiong Hu, Xiongying Zhang, Xincheng Ma, Ruijie Li, Ping Tian, Ottmar Möhler, Heike Wex, Frank Startmann, Jie Chen, and Xianda Gong

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  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1873', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1873', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Jun 2025
Kaiqi Wang, Kai Bi, Shuling Chen, Markus Hartmann, Zhijun Wu, Jiyu Gao, Xiaoyu Xu, Yuhan Cheng, Mengyu Huang, Yunbo Chen, Huiwen Xue, Bingbing Wang, Yaqiong Hu, Xiongying Zhang, Xincheng Ma, Ruijie Li, Ping Tian, Ottmar Möhler, Heike Wex, Frank Startmann, Jie Chen, and Xianda Gong
Kaiqi Wang, Kai Bi, Shuling Chen, Markus Hartmann, Zhijun Wu, Jiyu Gao, Xiaoyu Xu, Yuhan Cheng, Mengyu Huang, Yunbo Chen, Huiwen Xue, Bingbing Wang, Yaqiong Hu, Xiongying Zhang, Xincheng Ma, Ruijie Li, Ping Tian, Ottmar Möhler, Heike Wex, Frank Startmann, Jie Chen, and Xianda Gong

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Short summary
Understanding how ice forms in clouds is crucial for predicting weather and climate; however, accurately measuring the ice-nucleating particles that trigger ice formation remains challenging. We developed an advanced instrument called the Freezing Ice Nucleation Detection Analyzer. By refining temperature control, automating freezing detection, and rigorously testing, we demonstrated that this instrument can reliably measure ice-nucleating particles across diverse conditions.
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