Köhler theory

The equilibrium water-vapor saturation ratio above a solution droplet combines a curvature effect, which raises vapor pressure, with dissolved-solute reduction of water activity. Its maximum defines a critical supersaturation for activation. In a dilute hygroscopicity approximation using droplet diameter $D$ and dry diameter $D_d$, $s(D)\simeq A_K/D-\kappa D_d^3/D^3$, where $A_K=4\sigma M_w/(RT{\rho }_w)$. Then $s_c\simeq \sqrt{4A_K^3/(27\kappa D_d^3)}$. These approximate forms assume the stated diameter convention and dilute solution; composition and surface tension must be consistent.^[ref]

Writing the same curve using diameter $D=2r$ changes its coefficients: $A_D=2A_r$ and $B_D=8B_r$ in $A_D/D-B_D/D^3$. The critical saturation ratio is unchanged, while $D_c=2r_c$. Mixing a diameter curvature coefficient with a radius solute term gives a spurious activation threshold.

The maximum equilibrium supersaturation along a solution-droplet growth curve. Above this threshold, an aerosol particle can grow into an activated cloud droplet under the conditions of the parcel. In Köhler theory, larger dry diameter or greater hygroscopicity generally lowers the threshold; aerosol number alone does not specify it.

In the dilute radius form $\ln S_{\mathrm{eq}}=A/r-B/r^3$, the curvature coefficient A has length units and B has volume units. Setting its derivative to zero gives the displayed maximum. Ambient supersaturation above it permits activation into a growing cloud droplet. Below it, a sufficiently small wet equilibrium can be stable, while the larger-radius intersection is unstable. The approximation should not be extrapolated into the dry core.