The Effect of Surface Films in Retarding the Growth by Condensation of Cloud Nuclei and Their Use in Fog Suppression

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Abstract
Equations are given for the growth by adsorption and condensation of cetyl alcohol and water vapor on a poplulation of hygroscopic nuclei in an atmosphere being cooled at a given rate. The equations are integrated numerically for a variety of initial conditions to obtain the droplet size distribution in fogs formed in either a clean or cetyl-alcohol-contaminated atmosphere. In general, it is found that cetyl alcohol merely serves to delay the formation of a fog for a time which depends on the quantity of cetyl alcohol used, the rate of cooling of the atmosphere, and the size distribution of the condensation nuclei present. A moderate quantity of cetyl alcohol, which for an airfield might be between 10 and 100 kg, could delay the formation of a fog for some tens of minutes. However, if cooling continues long enough, a fog will eventually form which is generally worse than it would have been without treatment.

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