On the CCN [de]activation nonlinearities

Abstract

We take into consideration the evolution of particle size in a monodisperse aerosol population during activation and deactivation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). The phase portrait of the system derived through a weakly-nonlinear analysis reveals a saddle-node bifurcation and a cusp catastrophe. An analytical estimate of the activation timescale is derived through estimation of the time spent in the saddle-node bifurcation bottleneck. Numerical integration of the system portrays two types of activation/deactivation hystereses: one associated with the kinetic limitations on droplet growth when the system is far from equilibrium, and one occurring close to equilibrium and associated with the cusp catastrophe. The hysteretic behaviour close to equilibrium imposes stringent time-resolution constraints on numerical integration, particularly during deactivation.