A novel technique to determine atmospheric ion mobility spectra

Abstract

Detailed tropospheric ion measurements are needed to improve understanding of the electrical microphysics affecting clouds. Additionally, atmospheric ion mobility spectra can be used to identify ion growth processes leading to condensation nucleus formation. However these measurements are rare, particularly in the troposphere where the majority of clouds form. Developments in the operating theory of the classical instrument for ion measurement, the aspirated cylindrical capacitor, are described, which enable ion mobility spectrum information to be extracted from the rate of voltage decay of the aspirated capacitor in air. In this paper, data from historical balloon-borne ion counter ascents will be reanalysed to extract new ion mobility spectra from simple voltage time series. Such data recovery will increase the amount of atmospheric ion spectra available for analysis.