Flood or Drought: How Do Aerosols Affect Precipitation?
University of Helsinki · Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway · +5 more institutions
Abstract
Aerosols serve as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and thus have a substantial effect on cloud properties and the initiation of precipitation. Large concentrations of human-made aerosols have been reported to both decrease and increase rainfall as a result of their radiative and CCN activities. At one extreme, pristine tropical clouds with low CCN concentrations rain out too quickly to mature into long-lived clouds. On the other hand, heavily polluted clouds evaporate much of their water before precipitation can occur, if they can form at all given the reduced surface heating resulting from the aerosol haze layer. We propose a conceptual model that explains this apparent dichotomy.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 60.43
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 58
Authors
8- DRDaniel RosenfeldCorresponding
University of Helsinki, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Helsinki Institute of Physics, ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- ULUlrike Lohmann
University of Helsinki, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Helsinki Institute of Physics, ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- GBGraciela B. Raga
University of Helsinki, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Helsinki Institute of Physics, ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- COColin O’Dowd
University of Helsinki, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Helsinki Institute of Physics, ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- MKMarkku Kulmala
University of Helsinki, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Helsinki Institute of Physics, ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Topics & keywords
- Cloud condensation nuclei
- Precipitation
- Aerosol
- Environmental science
- Haze
- Atmospheric sciences
- Water vapor
- Flood myth