Reply on RC2

Abstract

Chen et al. conducted ambient measurements in Beijing in summer and winter from which they calculated size-dependent volatility shrinkage factors (VSF) and mixing states of urban aerosols and compared the volatility properties in different seasons. The measurements were conducted with the use of a VTDMA of which size-selected aerosols ranging from 40-nm to 300-nm were heated up to 300°C. The non-volatile particles that remained in the particle phase upon heating up to 300°C were assumed to be black carbon (BC) in the analysis. Although volatility analysis of ambient aerosols has been intensively studied in general, this manuscript presents measurement results in different seasons in north China. The dataset presented in the manuscript is overall comprehensive but could be more thorough when interpreting the results.