Measurements of Aitken nuclei and cloud condensation nuclei in the marine atmosphere and their relation to the DMS‐Cloud‐climate hypothesis

Abstract

New airborne measurements provide support for the hypothesis that layers of high concentrations of Aitken nuclei near the tops of marine clouds are due to photochemical nucleation. They also reveal a significant correlation between cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) concentrations in the boundary layer and mean cloud droplet concentration in stratus clouds topping a marine boundary layer. Nonsea salt sulfate mass and the concentration of CCN active at 1% supersaturation are also significantly correlated. These results provide quantitative support for some facets of the DMS‐cloud‐climate hypothesis.