Author(s)

B. Bessagnet & R. Rosset

Abstract

Most generally, atmospheric aerosol particles are ideally modelled as spheres for which it is straightforward to calculate geometrical properties (diameter, surface and volume) and ensuing radiative, dynamical and chemical characteristics. However, the particles issued in particular from combustion processes display a wide range of structures, from linear clusters to quasi spherical ones. These various shapes result in quite different physical and chemical characteristics for these particles : the processes of absorption, coagulation and deposition are strongly affected by the fractal nature of such aerosols. Whereas only one discretization parameter (diameter d) is required in the spectral distribution n(d) of spherical particles, it is necessary to use a 2D distribution n(v,a) for fractal ones, v and

Keywords