Cloud Condensation Nucleus Activity of calcite and calcite coated with model humic and fulvic acids

Many recent studies have shown that organics can alter the water adsorption and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of common deliquescent species in the Earth's atmosphere. However, very little is known about the effect of organics on water adsorption and CCN activity of common inactive cloud nuclei, such as mineral aerosol. As many studies have shown that a large fraction of unidentified organic material in aerosol particles is composed of polycarboxylic acids resembling humic substances, the presence of these large molecular weight Humic-Like Substances (HULIS) may also alter the water adsorption and CCN activity of mineral aerosol. Thus, we have measured the water adsorption and CCN activity of model humic and fulvic acids. Additionally, the water adsorption and CCN activity of mineral aerosol particles coated with humic and fulvic acids have been studied. We find that humic and fulvic acids show continual multilayer water adsorption as the relative humidity is raised. Additionally, we find that calcite particles mixed with humic and fulvic acids take up more water by mass, by a factor of two, compared to the uncoated calcite particles at approximately 70% RH. CCN measurements also indicate that internally mixed calcite-humic or fulvic acid aerosols are more CCN active than the otherwise inactive, uncoated calcite particles. Our results suggest that mineral aerosol particles coated with high molecular weight organic materials will take up more water and become more efficient CCN in the Earth's atmosphere than single-component mineral aerosol.