Particle number size distribution and new particle formation in Xiamen, the coastal city of Southeast China in wintertime

New particle formation (NPF) has a great impact on regional and global climate, air quality and human health. This study uses a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) for simultaneous measurement of particle number size distribution (PNSD) in wintertime to investigate NPF in the coastal city of Xiamen. The mean particle number concentration, surface area concentration and volume concentration were 7.25 × 10 3 cm −3 , 152.54 μm 2 cm −3 , and 4.03 μm 3 cm −3 , respectively. Particle number concentration was mainly influenced by the nucleation mode and the Aitken mode, whereas the main contributor to particle surface area concentration and volume concentration was accumulation mode particles. The frequency of NPF events occurred was around 41.4% in December 2019. The typical growth rates of new formed particles were 1.41–2.54 nm h −1 , and the observed formation rates were 0.49–1.43 cm −3 s −1 . A comparative analysis of conditions between event and non-event days was performed. The results emphasized that air temperature, UV radiation and relative humidity were the most decisive meteorological factors, and NPF events usually occurred under clean atmospheric conditions with low PM concentrations. Although condensation sink was high when NPF event occurred, the level of SO 2 and O 3 concentration was also high. • Aitken mode particle contributed about 50% of the particle number concentration. • High frequency of NPF events was observed in the coastal city Xiamen. • NPF events mainly showed ‘banana’ shape in Xiamen wintertime. • NPF events occurred with high temperature, high radiation, and low relative humidity.