Research

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Title :	ICE nucleating particle and cloud condensation NuClei properties in the north-western Himalayas (ICE-CRUNCH)
Area of research :	Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Focus area :	Cryopshere
Principal Investigator :	Dr. Shewta Yadav University of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir , Jammu & Kashmir.ac.in
Timeline Start Year :	2023
Timeline End Year :	2027

Details

Executive Summary :

This proposal envisions a joint campaign to measure the key aerosol particle properties at Patnitop, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir & Kashmir, North-Western Himalayas (NHW), India. The intensive observation period will take place for over four seasons between October 2023 and August 2024. This will target the wet (Monsoon) and dry seasons and will include offline and online measurement where instrument will be deployed in the field to measure in real time the concentration of Icc Nuclcating Particles (INPs) (at T ≥ -30 °C), Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) and aerosol size distribution all relevant for warm and cold cloud formation. Particulate matter will be collected on suitable filters to elucidate ice nucleating properties and chemical composition of the particles as well as detect micro- and macrobial environmental DNA (eDNA) as tracers of natural biogenic particles. The results from the chemical composition, size distributions and eDNA tracing will be used to identify impacts of aerosolo origin on the CCN and INP concentrations at Patnitop. Precipitation collected will be analaysed offline for chemical and ice nucleating properties to understand their contribution to mixed-phase cloud formation. With the targeted four-phase measurements, the seasonal and diurnal patterns in aerosol, CCn and INP properties will be identified. Continous monitoring of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and procursor gases (SO2 Nox and NH3) will be used to develop an understanding of the thermodynamic evolution of secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA). With thermodynamic models, the composition and phase state of ammonium-sulfate-nitrate aerosol in equilibrium with their gaseous precursors will be predicted. Combining these observations with back trajectories will reveal the aerosol sources (anthropgenic or natural), thus identifying the main drivers of ice and cloud droplet formation in this area. The results are expected to contribute data on aerosol chemical and physical properties for a region where such data is sparse at best and provide an observation database for sensitivity studies and validation of cloud anc climate modesl that focus on the region.