Decrease in Nucleated Particles and Cloud Condensation Nuclei Observed Across a Range of Environments

Understanding new particle formation (NPF) and the fate of nanoparticles is crucial because of their close links to air quality, cloud formation, and climate. These effects vary spatially and temporally owing to diverse aerosol sources and their relatively short atmospheric lifetime. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of long-term trends in NPF-associated nucleation-mode particles and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations across diverse observation environments using quality-controlled particle number size distribution (PNSD) and CCN data from 37 sites, primarily from Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) stations. We identify declining decadal trends in both NPF occurrences and nucleated particle concentrations across most site types, with the strongest declines in urban areas. We observe simultaneous reductions in both CCN concentrations and nucleation-mode particles, suggesting that newly formed particles are a potential source of CCN. This, in turn, suggests that cloud microphysical properties and radiative effects can be indirectly influenced through aerosol-cloud interactions that modify cloud droplet formation. These findings indicate that decreasing anthropogenic emissions could influence the climate forcing potential of aerosol-cloud interactions, with important implications for future climate projections.