Mt Brocken, a site for a cloud chemistry measurement programme in Central Europe

We present results from the Brocken Cloud Chemistry Measurement Project (BROCCMON) which started in 1991. Since 1992 the full programme is running, based on continuous measurements (e.g. trace gases, meteorology, liquid water content), cloud water sampling and analysis and intensive measurement campaigns. The observed high variability of cloud water composition we explain with cloud dynamic and microphysical behaviour of clouds and differences in the air mass characteristics. During the measurement period 1992-1994 we observed an increase in cloud water acidity (by a factor of 3) and we found photochemical conditions typically for summersmog situations. Our preliminary data also show that an understanding of tropospheric ozone balance would be incomplete without consideration of chemical processes within clouds. A long-term goal of our programme is to establish a cloud chemistry climatology which is representative for the region.