Aircraft are an important source of both soot aerosols and pollutants, like CO₂ and nitrogen oxides (NO_x), which also negatively affect human health and the environment. In many cases, strategies to reduce one pollutant may increase another. So, it is vital to have a quantitative understanding of the contribution of each pollutant to negative outcomes so that trade-offs can be made. Here, we review methods to reduce aircraft soot emissions through the use of fuel, engine design, and operation.

Condensed particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic compounds that may be detrimental to human health, even at low (sub-ng m^-3) long-term exposure levels. The CHARON FUSION PTR-TOF 10k is capable of directly detecting PAHs on a chemical composition level at significantly lower mass concentrations. Herein, we report the time series of nine PAHs and identify three associated major sources and physicochemical processes for summertime aerosol in Innsbruck, Austria.

Our study explores how tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics (MPs), move through the air. We focus on their journey in a wind tunnel to mimic atmospheric transport. Depending on the air speed and the height of their release, they move downwards or upwards. These results suggest that MPs behave like mineral particles and that we can expect MPs to accumulate where natural dust also accumulates in the environment, offering insights for predicting the spread and impacts of MPs.

Surface morphology is critical for enhanced performance in thin films. However, there is limited understanding regarding the accurate control of thin-film morphology. This work provides a systematic way of optimizing different parameters to achieve the desired surface morphologies. Key parameters for controlling thin-film morphology have been identified. Using these parameters, a systematic design schedule for electrosprayed thin films with different surface morphologies has been developed.

More than 35 000 particle counters designed for the periodic technical inspection of diesel engine exhaust have been placed on the European market in the past few years. This work shows that the counting efficiency of these instruments depends on the properties of the test aerosols, even if all of them are combustion-based soot of similar mobility diameter. The aim of this study is to promote harmonisation of measurement procedures in the field of emission control.

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).

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 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.

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.

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.

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.