The importance of upper troposphere aerosol transport and processing for low and mid troposphere aerosol concentrations (C06)

• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 428312742

Several field campaigns within the tropics have demonstrated on a regional scale that upper troposphere (UT) new particle formation may contribute, or even dominate, lower troposphere (LT) cloud condensation nuclei concentrations. Recent staircase flights during ATOM 1 and 2 even suggest that this could be the case generally throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. However a clear source-apportionment and in-depth analysis of the relevant transport time-scales and mechanisms could not be obtained. Here we will assess the horizontal and vertical transport of newly-formed UT particles using ICON. This will allow us to clearly identify regions of increased exposure to secondary UT particles.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 301: The tropopause region in a changing atmosphere
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Joachim Curtius; Professorin Dr. Anna Possner