Iodine dioxide nucleation simulations in coastal and remote marine environments

Aerosol dynamical box model simulations of coastal new particle formation were performed in order to investigate the nucleation and growth mechanisms in this environment. In the simulations the nucleating vapor was assumed to be iodine dioxide (OIO). Both Eulerian and Lagrangian type simulations were made and compared with observations. We tested three nucleation mechanisms: kinetic nucleation of OIO (K × [OIO]²), activation of clusters by OIO (A × [OIO]) and sulphuric acid-induced activation of clusters containing OIO (B × [OIO] × [H₂SO₄]). All the nucleation mechanisms provided reasonable results, although the growth of particles due to condensation is inadequate in kinetic nucleation cases as compared with experimental measurements. Growth of newly formed particles could be assisted by any low-volatility, vapors should their concentration exceed 10⁹ cm^-3. Using the obtained values of coefficients K, A, and B we found that nucleation driven by iodine compounds in remote marine areas is possible, but by OIO and H₂SO₄ alone, only a minor fraction of newly formed particles is likely to reach detectable sizes. Owing to the scavenging by coagulation with background aerosol particles, few of them will likely reach climatically relevant sizes by acting as seed particles for other low-volatility vapors. In order to elucidate the significance of our results, more detailed measurements of OIO source and photolysis rates, dimensions of precursor areas, and particle chemical composition are needed.