Dust mass, cloud condensation nuclei, and ice-nucleating particle profiling with the upgraded THEssaloniki’s Lidar SYStem

This thesis presents an analysis based on AERONET inversion data collected at the Thessaloniki station. Dust aerosols can act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) or ice-nucleating particles (INP), playing a crucial role in cloud formation processes and thereby enhancing our understanding of their impact on atmospheric dynamics. The study integrates microphysical parameters derived from AERONET with lidar observations from Thessaloniki’s THELISYS system to estimate particle number concentrations relevant to CCN and INP activation. The main objective is to determine, for the first time, conversion factors for dust aerosols using ground-based instruments in Thessaloniki, facilitating their application in future vertical profiles of CCN and INP concentrations.