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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 3, 1439-1443, 2003
www.atmos-chem-phys.net/3/1439/2003/
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Comment on evidence for surface-initiated homogeneous nucleation

J. E. Kay1, V. Tsemekhman2, B. Larson1, M. Baker1, and B. Swanson1
1Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
2Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

Abstract. We investigate theoretical, laboratory, and atmospheric evidence for a recently proposed hypothesis: homogeneous ice nucleation initiates at the surface, not in the volume, of supercooled water drops. Using existing thermodynamic arguments, laboratory experiments, and atmospheric data, we conclude that ice embryo formation at the surface cannot be confirmed or disregarded. Ice nucleation rates measured as a function of drop size in an air ambient could help distinguish between volume and surface nucleation rates.

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Citation: Kay, J. E., Tsemekhman, V., Larson, B., Baker, M., and Swanson, B.: Comment on evidence for surface-initiated homogeneous nucleation, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 3, 1439-1443, 2003.   Bibtex   EndNote   Reference Manager