Insoluble aerosol particles such as minerals and black carbon can trigger freezing inside clouds, which leads to rain formation. However, both particle types are relatively poor nuclei for cloud droplets. In this work, theoretical calculations are presented about the ability of surface-tension-reducing compounds to promote cloud drop formation around insoluble aerosols. The calculations indicate that such surfactants can be efficient in “smuggling” insoluble particles into cloud droplets.

This study shows that electrostatic dispersion can influence the time evolution of the charge and size distributions of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in the atmosphere. Three approaches with different levels of complexity are proposed to couple electrostatic dispersion with microphysical and radiological processes. These approaches can be useful to better understand the behavior of particles in atmospheric systems containing radionuclides.

Dust deposition flux was investigated in lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia, between 2016–2021. Results show that the use of direct measurements of aluminium, iron, thorium, and titanium in aerosols to estimate average dust deposition fluxes limits biases associated with using single elements. Observations of dust deposition fluxes in the Southern Hemisphere are critical to validate model outputs and better understand the seasonal and interannual impacts of dust deposition on biogeochemical cycles.

The exact point at which a given assembly of molecules represents an atmospheric molecular cluster or a particle remains ambiguous. Using quantum chemical methods, here we explore a cluster-to-particle transition point. Based on our results, we deduce a property-based criterion for defining freshly nucleated particles (FNPs) that act as a boundary between discrete cluster configurations and bulk particles.

With the recently developed CIC  (Cluster Ion Counter)  instrument, we can observe dynamics of small air ions and intermediate air ions. Furthermore, we can observe condensation sink and formation and growth rates for intermediated ions.

The performances of different particle lung-deposited surface area (LDSA^al) measurement methods (Partector, ELPI+, SMPS/DMPS) were compared in ambient conditions. As LDSA^al is a health-relevant metric and rather easy to utilise in air quality monitoring, it is crucial to know how the different methods agree, as there are clear differences in their operation. In all, a comparison of different methods can be complicated; still, the methods agree rather well in terms of local pollution (< 400 nm).