LABORATORY 2

AEROSOL PARTICLE MEASUREMENTS

MOTIVATION:
Atmospheric aerosol particles are submicron and supermicron in size. The submicron
particles form primarily from combustion and gas-to-particle reactions. The
supermicron particles form from evaporation of sea-spray and wind-erosion of soil.
Volcanoes are a major source of both kinds of particles. Human production of these
particles leads to increased haziness, sometimes in remote areas such as the Arctic.
Many of these particles serve at the nuclei for the micron-size cloud droplets and
millimeter-size snow crystals. It is important to determine the relationship between the
numbers of aerosol particles and cloud particles because the increased numbers of
human-caused particles may be causing clouds to contain more droplets and crystals.
This is a major research topic at SPL (Borys, et al., 2000: Atmos. Environ., Hindman,
et. al., 2002: J. Wea. Modif.) Such increases may affect our climate because clouds are
a major influence on the radiative balance of the atmosphere.
Storm Peak Laboratory is an ideal location to study the interactions of aerosol and
cloud particles because the aerosol particles can be measured prior to cloud formation
and the cloud particles can be measured after cloud formation. The cloud droplets are
readily collected because they exist in a supercooled state and freeze upon striking a
surface. The resulting rime ice deposit is easily removed from the surface for analyses
as detailed in Laboratory 3. The snow crystals also are readily collected as described in
Laboratory 4.
During cloud-free periods, aerosol particles flow past SPL. We measure their numbers
with a suite of instruments that measure both the submicron and supermicron particles.
The flow of air past SPL during a cloud-free period is as follows: air is forced to rise
over the north-south oriented Park Range upon which SPL is perched. The air rises and
cools (due to adiabatic expansion) but does not cool to the dew-point temperature,
hence a cloud does not form, the air remains clear. The air contains too little water
vapor to condense and form a cloud.
During cloudy periods at SPL, cloud droplets and snow crystals form on many of the
aerosol particles. We measure the sizes and numbers of the droplets with the FSSP.
The numbers of particle which do not form droplets are measured with the suite of
instruments. We estimate the sizes, numbers and types of the snow crystals by
preserving them with a plastic coating and observing them under a microscope (see
Laboratory 4). The mountain induced cloud in which the droplets and crystals form is
like a "blanket" draped over the Park Range (you estimated cloud base in Lab 1):

Laboratory 2, pg. 1
The air that is forced to rise over the barrier is now moist enough for condensation to
occur. But, after the air flows over the range, it sinks down into North Park, a large
valley directly east of SPL. Descending air warms adiabatically and hence, the cloud
droplets and snow crystals evaporate. The annual precipitation is about 16 inches in
Hayden (the airport where you landed), is about 60 inches at the crest of the range
(where SPL is) and is, once again, 16 inches at Walden just 20 miles downwind of SPL
in North Park (Hindman, 1986: J. Appl. Meteor.). From these numbers, you can see the
tremendous influence the Park Range has on the weather.
At SPL, the DRI has installed a suite of instruments that measures the size distribution
and number concentration of aerosol particles with diameters between 0.003 and 20
m:

The aerosol particle size distribution is divided into three modes: the nucleation, fine
and coarse. The nucleation mode is populated by particles that formed by gas-to-
particle reactions or by combustion, the fine mode is populated by particles that
coagulated and grew from the nucleation mode and the coarse mode is populated by
particles produced by mechanical processes (eg. road dust).
It can be seen in the diagram, cloud droplets form on the smaller particles while the
crystals form on the larger particles. The fate of the aerosol particles in cloud droplet
and snow crystal formation at SPL has been described by Borys, Hindman and DeMott
(1988, J. Atmos. Chem., 7, 213-239), Borys, Lowenthal and Mitchell (2000, Atmos.
Environ. 34, 2593-2602), Lowenthal, Borys and Wetzel (2002, J. Geophys. Res., 107,
4345) and Borys, et al. (2003, Geophys. Rsh. Ltrs. 30, 1538).
The operating principles of the suite of instruments can be found on-line at
www.tsi.com. First, there are the particle counters, the TSI3025A ultrafine
condensation particle counter (UCPC) and TSI3010 condensation particle counter
(CPC). Briefly, particles greater than a minimum size are caused to grow to light-
scattering sizes by condensation of alcohol vapors in a rapid expansion chamber as
Laboratory 2, pg. 2
described by Agarwal and Sem (1980, J. Aerosol Sci., 11, 343-357). Then, there is the
particle sizer, the TSI3936 scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Particles entering
the instrument and are electrically neutralized. Then, a known charge is applied to the
particles and they flow through an annulus in which an electric charge is applied to a
center probe. All particles smaller than a size specified by the probe migrate to the
probe. The particles just larger flow through the annulus and into a TSI3022 ultrafine
CN counter to be counted. The charge on the probe is increased and a larger size-cut
occurs and those particles are counted. The sizer steps through a particle diameter rage
of 8.6 to 300 nm in about 5-minutes. The minimum particle diameter detected by the
TSI3022 counter is about 8.6 nm and so this is the minimum diameter detected by the
SMPS. Finally, there is the particle sizer and counter. The TSI3321 aerodynamic
particle sizer (APS) is a time-of-flight spectrometer that measures the velocity of
particles in an accelerating air flow through a nozzle to size the particle. A count is
added to the size-bin encompassing the particle size. Then, the next particle in the air
stream is sized and counted and so on until a statistically significant number of particles
are counted. This takes about 5-minutes. So, a size spectrum and number
concentration is obtained every five minutes. Both the SMPS and APS instruments
have cyclones on the inlets to remove particles, respectively, greater than 1 and 20
micrometers in diameter.
The SMPS and APS instruments both have "cyclones" on the inlets to remove particles,
respectively, with diameters greater that 1 and 20 micrometers.
The mass concentration (micrograms/cubic meter) of aerosol particles with diameters
less than or equal to 10 micrometers, called PM10, is a standard air pollution
measurement. The Routt County Environmental Health Dept. measures hourly PM10
values downtown. Thus, we can compare our DustTrak data with theirs to develop a
pattern of PM10 in the valley. Also, in January 2000, the acidic cloud episode detected
at SPL occurred concurrently with elevated PM10 concentrations at SPLB as reported
by Hindman, et al. (2002, J. Wea. Modif.). The operating principles of this instrument
can be found on-line at www.tsi.com. An Met-One AEROCET 531 PM10 will also be
used. Details are at www.metone.com/documents/AEROCET531Particulate.pdf.
OBJECTIVES:

Learn to measure the concentrations of aerosol particles using the PortaCount Plus (a
variation of the CPC), the CPC, the Ultrafine CPC, the DustTrak and Scanning
mobility particle sizer and Aerosol particle sizer.
INSTRUMENTS:

SPL: TSI 3010 CPC for CN (Dia > 0.01 m)

TSI 3025A Ultrafine CPC for ultrafine CN (Dia > 0.003 m)
TSI 3936 Scanning mobility particle sizer (Dia = 0.0086 to 0.3 m) is connected
to a UCPC TSI3022 (Dia> 7 nm)
TSI 3321 Aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) (Dia = 0.37 to 20 m) for PM10
SPLM: TSI 3010 CPC and absolute air filter to zero CPC
TSI DustTrack (DT) for PM10
SPLB: TSI 8020 PortaCount Plus (PCP) and absolute air filter to zero PCP
AEROCET 531 particle mass monitor for PM10

Laboratory 2, pg. 3
PROCEDURES:

SPL:

The CPC and Ultrafine CPC data are continuously recorded with the weather data on
the CR10 data logger. Every three hours, record on the CPC data sheet CN and UFCN
concentration values from the real-time SPL weather display on the SPL web-site
(stormpeak.dri.edu). The screen updates every 5-min and the values are 5-min
averages.
SMPS and
APS data
display
screen

Weather
display
screen

2002

The Aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) and Scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS)
data are displayed on the Gateway desktop monitor. These data are recorded onto a
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computer and preliminary analyses are automatically performed (make sure the clock
on the Gateway computer is identical to the clock on the CR10 to synchronize the
data). We will display cumulative mass concentrations values: the mass of aerosol
particles with sizes greater than or equal to a minimum particle diameter. The SMPS
measures the mass concentration of the submicron particles and the APS measures the
mass concentration of the supermicron particles. Record values on the APS/SMPS data
sheet (displayed are 5-minute-average mass concentration):

Note: SMPS mass concentration in g/m3

SPLM: Automatic, unattended operation

CPC

DustTrak

SPLB:

TSI PortaCount Plus (PCP) to measure CN:

At the 0800, 1400, 2000 and 0200 MST observations, record the time and three CN
values in the CN data sheet. Note, the PCP screen is blank and the data are scrolling on
the PC screen attached to the PCP.

At the 0500, 1100, 1700 and 2300 MST observations, record the time and three CN
values and replace the wick with the wick that has been soaking.

:
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Met-One AEROCET 531 to measure PM10:

At each observation time, just record three mass concentration values in the data book:

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 Instructions on manipulating the filter and filter-
holder
1. Remove the red lid form the filter-holder
2. Unscrew the screw-cap of the holder
3. Lift the Key
4. Use the clipper to pick the filter from the filter box. Notice that there is a sheet that
separate the filters; remove the separator and take the filter. The shiny side of the filter
is faced downward.
5. Place the filter on the top of the filter-holder base. Notice, the shiny side of the filter
must face upward
6. Do not wrinkle the filter. Avoid the electrostatic caused by the clipper and/or your
finger, which results in folding and sticking the filter in the clipper and/or finger
7. Make sure the filter is flat; return the key and make sure it is stable does not twist
8. Screw on the screw-cap
9. Cover the apparatus by the red lid to protect the filter
10. The gas meter is attached to the trailer tongue. There is a tube, which is attached to the
gas meter. Insert the filter-base into the tube.
11. Remove the red lid and let the filter collect particles for six hours. The filter must be
changed every six hours; no more, no less.
12. The tube leaving the gas meter is attached to the air pump. It sucks the air and allows
particles that have diameter greater than about 0.1 microns to be collected.

Instructions on opening the Petri dish

1. Hold the top cover with your thumb and index in the indented area
2. Lift the cover gently

Instructions on removing the filter from the holder

and placing in Petri dish
1. Remove the red cover gently
2. Unscrew the screw cap carefully without touching the filter
3. Lift the Key upwardly
4. Use the Clipper to remove the filter; do not allow the filter to fold. Keep it flat
5. Place it in the Petri dish shiny-side up
6. Close the Petri Dish
7. Label it as SPLB xx (e.g. SPLB 01, SPLB 02, etc) or SPLxx, depending on the location
of the filter.

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