Heterogeneous ice nucleation: Exploring the transition from stochastic to singular freezing behavior
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-30-2011
Department
Department of Physics
Abstract
Heterogeneous ice nucleation, a primary pathway for ice formation in the atmosphere, has been described alternately as being stochastic, in direct analogy with homogeneous nucleation, or singular, with ice nuclei initiating freezing at deterministic temperatures. We present an idealized, conceptual model to explore the transition between stochastic and singular ice nucleation. This "soccer ball" model treats particles as being covered with surface sites (patches of finite area) characterized by different nucleation barriers, but with each surface site following the stochastic nature of ice embryo formation. The model provides a phenomenological explanation for seemingly contradictory experimental results obtained in our research groups. Even with ice nucleation treated fundamentally as a stochastic process this process can be masked by the heterogeneity of surface properties, as might be typical for realistic atmospheric particle populations. Full evaluation of the model findings will require experiments with well characterized ice nucleating particles and the ability to vary both temperature and waiting time for freezing.
Publication Title
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Recommended Citation
Niedermeier, D.,
Shaw, R. A.,
Hartmann, S.,
Wex, H.,
Clauss, T.,
Voigtländer, J.,
&
Stratmann, F.
(2011).
Heterogeneous ice nucleation: Exploring the transition from stochastic to singular freezing behavior.
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics,
11(16), 8767-8775.
http://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-8767-2011
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/3155
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Version
Publisher's PDF
Publisher's Statement
© 2011 Author(s). Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-8767-2011