Freezing Clouds Caused by Factories Trigger local Snowfall
Aerosols, tiny particles of solid or liquid air pollution, mask a fraction of the warming caused by greenhouse gases that are produced by humans.
In addition to enhancing cloud brightness, anthropogenic aerosols perturb liquid clouds by enabling a greater number of cloud droplets to form.
Scientists at the University of Tartu have found that anthropogenic aerosols also affect clouds by converting cloud droplets into ice at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.
Snow at the Power Plant
Global climate research has identified unique plumes of ice clouds and reduced cloud cover downwind of industrial hot spots throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
Additionally, precipitation radar data revealed plumes of snow in areas where satellite imagery showed reduced cloud cover.
Researchers tracked the physical processes downwind of industrial hot spots using satellite and ground-based radar observations.
Researchers with diverse expertise should collaborate to develop a physical understanding of anthropogenic snowfall events, according to study lead author, Associate Prof V. Toll at the University of Tartu.
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Water that Has been Supercooled
At zero degrees Celsius, water freezes, doesn’t it? Supercooling of water is a process in which cloud droplets stay liquid even at temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius. The cold climate requires suitable aerosol particles to convert cloud droplets into ice.
Industries such as metal, cement, and coal-fired power plants emit aerosol particles that freeze supercooled liquid clouds, causing snowfall.
Nevertheless, industries may also contribute to the freezing of supercooled liquid clouds by releasing heat and water vapor.
Cloud plumes of reduced cloud cover have been observed locally; it is unclear whether anthropogenic aerosols cause ice formation in clouds on a regional scale.
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