Condensation Nuclei and the Crystallization of Saline Drops

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Abstract
Saline drops of from 5 to 100 microns diameter were sprayed onto spider webs, onto glass fibers, and onto plane surfaces. The drops were composed of sea water, concentrated sea water, and an aqueous solution of 3.5 per cent sodium chloride. They were placed in a small chamber (5 cm3) and kept under microscopic observation while nucleus-free air, with relative humidity about 25 per cent, was passed through the chamber and into a Scholz nucleus counter. Checks were made for nucleus production that might be associated with the crystallization of the saline drops but it was never found. The only nucleus production that was observed was associated with stresses that were applied to sea-salt on a platinum wire long after the phase change had occurred. It was concluded that the phase changes associated with sea water drops in the atmosphere are most unlikely to be a source of condensation nuclei. In laboratory experiments the supersaturation of saline drops was found to he commonplace. It is suggested that further work be carried out to determine how common this may be in the atmosphere.

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