Role of organic acids (formic, acetic, pyruvic and oxalic) in the formation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN): a review

Although it is believed that organic aerosols play a key role in cloud nucleation and make an important contribution to the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) population, their specific species remain poorly characterized. This paper reviews the current knowledge of organic acids (mainly formic, acetic, pyruvic and oxalic acids). Without specification, organic acids in this paper refer to these four organic acids in the gas and aerosol phases. This paper analyzes the extent to which organic acids act as CCN and compares the physical and chemical properties of organic acids with those of CCN. The results show that aerosol formate and acetate concentrations range from 0.02 to 5.3 nmol m⁻³ and from 0.03 to 12.4 nmol m⁻³, respectively, and that between 34 to 77% of formate and between 21 to 66% of acetate are present in the fine fraction of aerosols. It was found that although most (98–99%) of these volatile organic acids are present in the gas phase, their concentrations in the aerosol particles are sufficient to make them a good candidate for CCN. The results also show that organic acids may make an important contribution to the formation of CCN in some special sources such as vegetation emissions and biomass-burning. Organic acids are expected to contribute significantly to the estimates of indirect (cloud-mediated) forcing due to aerosols.