Most previous CCN measurements have been limited to supersaturations (S) above 0.1%. Thus S discrimination is limited to the Aitken size range (diameter < 0.1 µm). The S range of the DRI instruments extends down to 0.01%, which thus usually includes most of the Large Nuclei (LN) size range (0.1-1 µm diameter). The S range needs this extension because:
1) many clouds form at S < 0.1%;
2) LN may be precipitation embryos;
3) difficult giant nuclei measurements can be more credible if interfaced with LN;
4) cloud droplet spectral width, which is important for precipitation, may depend on full CCN spectra;
5) concentrations of more massive (lower S nuclei) need to be considered for static CCN closure (comparisons of particle size and composition with CCN);
6) since the lower S nuclei condense the most water they need to be considered for dynamic CCN closure (comparisons of predicted cloud droplet concentrations from CCN and updraft with measured cloud droplet concentrations);
7) wide CCN spectra are needed to determine CCN sizes.
As in many previous projects (e.g., Hudson and Yum 2002) both of the DRI CCN spectrometers operated in all six projects. This was done
1) for redundancy;
2) to better accommodate in flight calibrations;
3) to do measurements of cloud droplet residual particles from a CVI with one instrument while the other continues to monitor ambient;
4) similarly to do volatility measurements;
5) similarly to do size versus S measurements
6) to operate each over different S ranges to optimize the measurements
7) to check each instrument in the overlapping S range
The latter helps to validate the measurements over the entire S range, especially the instrument operating at the higher (larger) S range, which is more challenging. Agreement of the lower end (which is the most challenging) of the higher S range instrument with the upper end of the S range (which is least challenged) of the lower S range instrument provides confidence (e.g., Figs. 1). Since the DRI instruments have so many S channels it is possible to plot data differentially (e.g. Figs. 1) as well as the traditional cumulative plots. Differential plots provide a better test of instrument comparisons in the overlapping S range. Figure 2 shows typical vertical profiles measured in AIRS2 where clean concentrations decrease from polluted to clean with altitude. Figure 3 shows the layer of high concentrations that was consistently measured above the stratus clouds off the California coast (e.g., Hudson and Frisbie 1991). Table 1 shows examples of comparisons between CCN spectra and cloud droplet concentrations. Figure 4 shows the relationship between critical S (Sc) particle size. This is consistent with Hudson and Da (1996) where CCN are larger in more polluted air masses. In clean air the particles are mostly purely soluble substances such as NaCl or ammonium sulfate. In more polluted air masses the CCN are probably internal mixtures of soluble and insoluble (e.g., soot) material. Volatility measurements in all projects were consistent with sulfate rather than NaCl for the vast majority of CCN.
Figure1. Differential plot of comparison of the two DRI CCN spectrometers. Here New operated over the higher (larger S range up to 1% whereas old operated only up to 0.3%.
Figure2. Vertical distribution of CCN over North America
Figure 3. Vertical profile of CN and CCN at various S off the California coast with low stratus clouds
Table1. Comparisons of CCN spectra with cloud droplet measurements in AIRS2
| date | Cloud time (EST) | CCN time (EST) | Cloud altitude (m) | CCN altitude (m) | Droplet concentration (cm-3) | Seff |
| Nov. 18 | 1051 | 1054 | 892 | 862 | 500 | 0.13% |
| Nov. 24 | 1306 | 1304 | 3135 | 3133 | 200 | >2% |
| Nov 25 | 1137 | 1132 | 1500 | 1484 | 300 | 0.5% |
| Dec. 1 | 1425 | 1419 | 1503 | 1490 | 300 | 0.5% |
| Dec. 3 | 1359 | 1339 | 1468 | 480 | 200-220 | 0.31-0.38% |
| Dec. 4 | 1057 | 1052 | 1112 | 450 | 200 | 0.32% |
| Dec. 4 | 1112 | 1052 | 1158 | 450 | 300-390 | 0.68-1.04% |
Figure4. Size versus Sc measurements in clean air (RICO) and polluted air (MASE). CCN are larger in more polluted air—i.e., MASE versus RICO and higher altitude in MASE versus lower altitude (see Fig. 3)
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