Dr. Heike Wex
Dr. Heike Wex's research covers different fields relating to atmospheric aerosols. This includes measurements and modeling of optical aerosol properties (particle scattering and absorption), aerosol particle hygroscopic growth and activation behavior, as well as studies on the influence of aerosol particles on droplet freezing. Some of her work concerning particle hygroscopic growth and activation was related to the development, extension, and application of the Leipzig Aerosol Cloud Interaction Simulator (LACIS). The main goal of the studies done at and with LACIS was to evaluate the connection between hygroscopic growth (particularly in the range of high relative humidity) and particles' activation behavior, and from this to learn about the sensitivity of hygroscopic growth and activation to the various controlling parameters. Recently these studies have been extended to include field measurements, specifically the investigation of the activation behavior of atmospheric particles in trade wind cumuli.
In recent years, Dr. Wex's work with LACIS has shifted towards investigating the immersion freezing behavior of aerosol particles (an effect important in mixed phase clouds).