Comment on evidence for surface-initiated homogenous nucleation

J. E. Kay (1) , V. Tsemekhman (2) , B. Larson (1) , Mark D. Baker (1) , B. Swanson (1)

1 Department of Earth and Space Sciences [Seattle]
2 APL-UW - Applied Physics Laboratory [Seattle]

We investigate theoretical, laboratory, and atmospheric evidence for a recently proposed hypothesis: homogenous ice nucleation occurs 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.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère

J. E. Kay, V. Tsemekhman, B. Larson, Mark D. Baker, B. Swanson. Comment on evidence for surface-initiated homogenous nucleation. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 2003, 3 (4), pp.3361-3372. ⟨hal-00301128⟩