The formation of new atmospheric particles involves an initial step forming stable clusters less than a nanometre in size (<~1 nm), followed by growth into quasi-stable aerosol particles a few nanometres (~1-10 nm) and larger (>~10 nm). Although at times, the same species can be responsible for both processes, it is thought that more generally each step comprises differing chemical contributors. Here, we present a novel analysis of measurements from a unique multi-station ground-based observing system which reveals new insights into continental-scale patterns associated with new particle formation. Statistical cluster analysis of this unique 2-year multi-station dataset comprising size distribution and chemical composition reveals that across Europe, there are different major seasonal trends depending on geographical location, concomitant with diversity in nucleating species while it seems that the growth phase is dominated by organic aerosol formation. The diversity and seasonality of these events requires an advanced observing system to elucidate the key processes and species driving particle formation, along with detecting continental scale changes in aerosol formation into the future.

Aerodyne Research Inc Billerica MA USA

Charles University Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Dept of Atmospheric Physcis Prague Czechia

Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry Stockholm University 10691 Stockholm Sweden

Department of Environmental Sciences Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies King Abdulaziz University PO Box 80203 21589 Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Department of Evolutionary Biology Ecology and Environmental Sciences Universitat de Barcelona Av Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Catalonia Spain

Department of Physics University of Helsinki P O Box 64 00014 Helsinki Finland

Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology Lund University Box 118 SE 22100 Lund Sweden

Division of Nuclear Physics Lund University Box 118 SE 22100 Lund Sweden

European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability 21027 Italy

European Commission Joint Research Centre Italy

Finnish Meteorological Institute Climate Change Unit P O Box 503 00101 Helsinki Finland

Institute of Marine Science Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Barcelona Spain

Laboratoire d'Aérologie Toulouse France

Laboratoire de Météorologie Physique CNRS Université Blaise Pascal UMR6016 63117 Clermont Ferrand France

Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry Paul Scherrer Institute 5232 PSI Villigen Switzerland

Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research Permoserstr 15 04318 Leipzig Germany

National Centre for Atmospheric Science Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom

Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO Princetonlaan 6 3508 TA Utrecht The Netherlands

NOAA Earth System Laboratory and CIRES University of Colorado Boulder USA

School of Earth Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences The University of Manchester Manchester UK

School of Physics Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies National University of Ireland Galway University Road Galway Galway Ireland

Univ Grenoble Alpes CNRS IRD INPG Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement Grenoble France

Univ Grenoble Alpes CNRS IRD Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers Grenoble France

University of Eastern Finland Department of Applied Physics P O Box 1627 FIN 70211 Kuopio Finland

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