Cloud condensation nuclei (Q429)

Subject, term, tag: Cloud condensation nuclei

Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)

Language	Label	Description	Also known as
English	Cloud condensation nuclei	Subject, term, tag: Cloud condensation nuclei	Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)

Statements

Instance of

Category

source version

IPCC Glossary v1.5

1 reference

Source

https://apps.ipcc.ch/glossary/

date accessed

27 May 2026

Part of

Working Group I: Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis

0 references

Definition

The subset of aerosol particles that serve as an initial site for the condensation of liquid water, which can lead to the formation of cloud droplets, under typical cloud formation conditions. The main factor that determines which aerosol particles are CCN at a given supersaturation is their size. (English)