The impact of biological structures on ice nucleation - an experimental study for Climate research

01.01.2010 - 31.12.2011
Research funding project
For the Earth's weather and climate system, clouds are of major importance. On the one hand side they cool by reflecting parts of the solar radiation and on the other hand they heat by absorbing solar radiation and by trapping the outgoing infrared radiation. However, the latest report of the international panel of climate change (IPCC) presents clouds and aerosols as the largest non-anthropogenic uncertainties of earth¿s radiation balance (IPCC 2007). It is known that aerosols affect climate indirectly via their interaction with clouds. Aerosols can thus significantly influence the life cycle of clouds. For example, a change in aerosols can shift the formation of ice clouds to lower water supersaturations and warmer temperatures (Baker 2008). The influence of aerosols on the formation of ice clouds is a complex phenomenon. It can proceed via different pathways commonly termed deposition, condensation, immersion and contact nucleation. Each depends on the humidity, temperature and the physico-chemical properties of the aerosol particles. Knowledge of these processes is necessary to better describe and evaluate the effect of Cirrus and mixed-phase clouds on climate.

People

Project leader

Institute

Grant funds

  • Österr. Akademie der Wissenschaften (National) Austrian Academy of Sciences

Research focus

  • Biological and Bioactive Materials: 20%
  • Environmental Monitoring and Climate Adaptation: 60%
  • Materials Characterization: 20%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
EisnukleationIce nucleation
Bioaerosolebio aerosols
Mikroskopiemicroscopy
Spektroskopiespectroscopy
Diffraktiondiffraction

Publications