Decrease in Nucleated Particles and Cloud Condensation Nuclei Observed across a Range of Environments

Understanding new particle formation (NPF) and the fate of nanoparticles is crucial because of their close links to air quality, cloud formation, and climate. These effects vary spatially and temporally owing to diverse aerosol sources and their relatively short atmospheric lifetime. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of long-term trends in NPF-associated nucleation-mode particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations across diverse observation environments using quality-controlled particle number size distribution (PNSD) and CCN data from 37 sites, primarily from Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) stations. We identify declining decadal trends in both NPF occurrences and nucleated particle concentrations across most site types, with the strongest declines in urban areas. We observe simultaneous reductions in both CCN concentrations and nucleation-mode particles, suggesting that newly formed particles are a potential source of CCN. This, in turn, suggests that cloud microphysical properties and radiative effects can be indirectly influenced through aerosol-cloud interactions that modify cloud droplet formation. These findings indicate that decreasing anthropogenic emissions could influence the climate forcing potential of aerosol-cloud interactions, with important implications for future climate projections.

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Publication Details

Journal
Environmental Science & Technology
Published
2026-04-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c18035
Primary Topic
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Decrease in Nucleated Particles and Cloud Condensation Nuclei Observed across a Range of Environments

Markku Kulmala, Stergios Vratolis, Erik Swietlicki, J. A. Ogren et al.
Environmental Science & Technology
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
article

Decrease in Nucleated Particles and Cloud Condensation Nuclei Observed across a Range of Environments

Markku Kulmala, Stergios Vratolis, Erik Swietlicki, J. A. Ogren, O. L. Mayol‐Bracero, Sébastien Conil, Martine Collaud Coen, Maria I. Gini, K Weinhold, Heikki Lihavainen, Rokjin J. Park, Andrés Alástuey, Peter Tunved, Leena Järvi, Giorgos Kouvarakis, A. Gannet Hallar, Atsushi Matsuki, Antti Hyvärinen, Jenni Kontkanen, Erik Ahlberg, T Tuch, Maik Merkel, Seong Soo Yum, S Kim, Eija Asmi, Paolo Villani, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Elisabeth Andrews, Inés Zabala, Olaf Bath, J Park, Andreas Schwerin, Melita Keywood, Minsu Park, Tak Chan, Young Jun Yoon, Jean‐Philippe Putaud, Jeong Eun Kim, Chongai Kuang, Jin-Soo Choi, Cathrine Lund Myhre, Tuukka Petäja, Paolo Laj, Sebastiao Martins Dos Santos, Karine Sellegri, Clémence Rose, Yong Lin, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Meehye Lee, Chris Lunder, Angela Benedetti, Adam Kristensson, Nikos Kalivitis, Alfred Wiedensohler, Ville Vakkari, Do-Hyeon Park, Markus Fiebig, Vladimir Zdimal
article en

Abstract

Understanding new particle formation (NPF) and the fate of nanoparticles is crucial because of their close links to air quality, cloud formation, and climate. These effects vary spatially and temporally owing to diverse aerosol sources and their relatively short atmospheric lifetime. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of long-term trends in NPF-associated nucleation-mode particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations across diverse observation environments using quality-controlled particle number size distribution (PNSD) and CCN data from 37 sites, primarily from Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) stations. We identify declining decadal trends in both NPF occurrences and nucleated particle concentrations across most site types, with the strongest declines in urban areas. We observe simultaneous reductions in both CCN concentrations and nucleation-mode particles, suggesting that newly formed particles are a potential source of CCN. This, in turn, suggests that cloud microphysical properties and radiative effects can be indirectly influenced through aerosol-cloud interactions that modify cloud droplet formation. These findings indicate that decreasing anthropogenic emissions could influence the climate forcing potential of aerosol-cloud interactions, with important implications for future climate projections.

Environmental Science & Technology
Kanazawa University (JP), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (FR), San Antonio College (US), Finnish Meteorological Institute (FI), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Tasmania (AU), Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss (CH), Australian Antarctic Division (AU), University of Helsinki (FI), Climate Central (US), Environment and Climate Change Canada (CA), Seoul National University (KR), University of Crete (GR), European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (GB), Stockholm University (SE), Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (US), Universidad de Granada (ES), Lund University (SE), Yonsei University (KR), Université Clermont Auvergne (FR), Brookhaven National Laboratory (US), National Centre of Scientific Research "Demokritos" (GR), University of Utah (US), North-West University (ZA), European Commission (BE), Health Forecasting (US), Analytical Services (US), University of Colorado System (US), World Water Watch (US), Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine (RU), Korea Polar Research Institute (KR), Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (ES), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (DE), National Observatory of Athens (GR), Climate Centre (NL), Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals (CZ), Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement (FR), Sustainable Development Institute (US), Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement (PF), German Environment Agency (DE), Institut des Sciences Analytiques (FR), Laboratoire de Météorologie Physique (FR), Quality Research (US), Institute for Sustainable Development (ET), Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (ES), Clermont Université (FR), CSC - IT Center for Science (Finland) (FI), Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Analytical Chemistry (CZ), National Institute of Meteorological Sciences (KR), Life Cycle Engineering (United States) (US), Impact (CA), Institute for Forecasting of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KR), National Institute of Environmental Research (KR), NILU (NO), Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
Helsingin Yliopisto, European Commission, Academy of Finland, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, National Research Foundation of Korea, Jane ja Aatos Erkon Säätiö, National Research Council of Science and Technology, National Institute of Environmental Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, European Research Council, Jenny ja Antti Wihurin Rahasto
Climate action
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
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