Investigation of Ice Nucleating Particles (INPs) in southern Sweden - With a special focus on their origin, possible connection to meteorological parameters and aerosol properties

Abstract

This study investigates if there is a seasonal variability of ice nucleating particle (INP) concentrations. There is also a focus in seeing if there are correlations between meteorological parameters and aerosol properties and the measured INP concentrations. The samples were collected from the research station Hyltemossa located in southern Sweden. Air was pumped through filters which trapped the particles. These filters were then transported to the University of Gothenburg where they went through an analysis to investigate the INP concentration. The method used for this investigation has been the Lund University Cold Stage (LUCS), which is a droplet freezing assay (DFA). With this method the sample solution droplets undergoes a controlled freezing process in an environmental chamber and the droplets freezing temperatures are registered. The information from this process is then utilized to retrieve the INP concentration for each sample. The results from the study do not show any seasonal variations during the investigated time period. There are not any strong correlations between the INP concentrations and the meteorological parameters and aerosol properties that could be found either.