A study on spatial distribution of aerosol number concentration and its variability over East Asia

气溶胶粒子作为云凝结核，显著影响大气的辐射平衡（间接影响）。气溶胶的间接效应是气候变化预估中不确定性的一个主要来源。我们需要量化影响气溶胶数量浓度分布的关键因素，以便更好地了解间接影响。我们开发了一种快速测量气溶胶数浓度的机载系统。我们在东亚上空进行了飞机测量，揭示了气溶胶数量浓度的垂直分布。三维模型分析表明，新粒子的形成对确定春季数量浓度的重要性。

Aerosol particles act as cloud condensation nuclei and significantly affect the radiative balance of the atmosphere (indirect effect). Aerosol indirect effect is a major source of uncertainty in the projection of climate change. We need to quantify key factors affecting the distributions of aerosol number concentrations for better understanding of indirect effect. We have developed an airborne system for the fast measurement of aerosol number concentrations. We have conducted aircraft measurements over East Asia and revealed the vertical profiles of aerosol number concentrations. A three-dimensional model analysis has suggested the importance of new particle formation in determining the number concentrations in spring.