Aerosol Particles Below 3 nm
Source : PIB
GS II : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Why in News ?
Aerosol particles below 3 nm which can reach sizes having climatic impacts, formed frequently in urban locations in India.
Key Facts
- Scientists tracing the concentration, size and evolution of aerosol particles smaller than 3 nanometres at an urban location in India have found frequent formation of sub-3nm aerosol particles in the atmosphere.
- This has critical importance as a major fraction of these newly formed particles can reach to sizes of cloud condensation nuclei where they have climatic impacts.
- Scientists from the University of Hyderabad measured neutral sub-3nm particles for the first time at an urban location in India.
- They used AIRMODUS nano Condensation Nucleus Counter (nCNC) to measure particle size distribution in the size range of 1 to 3 nm.
What is an Aerosol ?
- The formation of small molecular clusters of sub-3nm size is technically called aerosol nucleation
- Subsequent growth of these newly formed clusters to the large sizes is called atmospheric new particle formation (NPF).
- NPF occurs everywhere in the terrestrial troposphere
- Therefore it is a large source of aerosol numbers to the atmosphere.
- Though extensively studied globally using field observations, laboratory experiments and modelling approach, it is largely unexplored in India.
What are the findings ?
- The team found a strong positive correlation between sub-3nm particle concentrations and sulphuric acid concentrations.
- Confirming the potential role of sulfuric acid in the formation of sub-3nm particles.
- Other vapours such as ammonia, amines and organics play a crucial role in the growth of newly formed particles.
- These newly formed particles did not always grow to large sizes.
- The team hypothesized that the particle growth was limited by lower concentrations of condensable vapours such as organic compounds calling for research using state-of-the-art instrumentation to understand the mechanisms driving NPF in diverse environments across India.
Daily Current Affairs : Click Here