The Influence of Aerosol Source Region on Size-resolved Hygroscopicity During the Asian Pacific Regional Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-Asia) Campaign

Aerosol hygroscopic properties were measured by a tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) system during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE)-Asia campaign from 31 March to 1 May 2001. Two high flow differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) were used to maximize the count rate on board the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely Piloted Aircraft (CIRPAS) Twin Otter aircraft. Hygroscopic growth factor distributions of particles having initial dry nanoparticle diameters of 0.040, 0.059, 0.086, 0.126, 0.186, 0.273, 0.400, and 0.586 μm were measured during 19 research flights. Data collected during 12 of those flights were used to investigate aerosol mixing state and the influence of aerosol source region on size-resolved hygroscopicity. The uniformity in size-resolved hygroscopicity was quantified to facilitate comparison between measurements made in different air masses. Hygroscopic growth factors are strongly dependent on source region and sizes. Mean hygroscopic growth factors were observed to be greatest when the air mass origin was from the south. The mean growth factors for continental sources decreased with initial size from 1.47 to 1.27 for 0.040 μm and 0.586 μm, but increased with initial size from 1.44 to 1.8 for 0.040 ㎛ and 0.400 ㎛ dry diameters for marine sources.