• Microscopical investigation of individual water drops has been conducted by the ASRC's
    Laboratory for Environmental Particulates Analysis (1970 - present). Experimental results
  • reveal many interesting observations, which may contribute, in small part,
  • toward further understanding our mysteries and complicated atmosphere.
who want to KNOW MORE about THE ATMOSPHERE and
who care THE PRESERVATION of OUR ENVIRONMENT

.    

DROP ONE:

FREEZING OF A WATER DROP:

Micro-droplets are generated by the freezing of a super cooled water drop, which is followed by the ejection of electric charged ice fragments from a frosty surface of the frozen drop. This observed microscopic phenomenon of fragmentation of hydrometeors with their accompanying electrical charges suggests a mechanism of rapid glaciations of ice multiplication process and electrification in the atmosphere.

DROP TWO:

EVAPORATION OF A SEAWATER DROP:

Marine aerosols with high sulfates are ejected from evaporating seawater drops generated by whitecaps at the ocean surface and followed by the formation of hollow spherical sea salt particles. A secondary ejection of aerosols is also detected during melting when the hollow particle is being moved into a high moisture environment or being dissolved into another water drop. A shell structure of magnesium chloride and/or potassium chloride on the surface of aerosols are confirmed and condensation of water vapor always began to form on aerosols in an environment of relative humidity higher than 40%. These observations may open up many new paths to study the multiplication and nucleation processes of condensation nuclei and the generation of sulfate from ocean into the atmosphere.

 

DROP THREE:

FORMATION OF AN ACID DROP:

Flyash trapped in cloud droplets may enhance acid rain production. Laboratory experiment has demonstrated that flyash from electric power plants catalyzes the reaction of sulfur dioxide in water droplets to form sulfates. When flyash particulates are injected into water drops exposed to sulfur dioxide, needle-like sulfates crystals appear. This reaction is also probably implicated in marble deterioration and leaf damage.

 

 

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