The relevance of nanoscale biological fragments for ice nucleation in clouds
| Autor: | J. D. Atkinson, Thomas F. Whale, Nsikanabasi Silas Umo, H. C. Price, Michael E. Webb, James F. Ross, D. O′Sullivan, Benjamin J. Murray |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Ross, J, Price, HC, Whale, TF, Umo, NS, Atkinson, JD |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2015 |
| Předmět: |
Dust particles
Nanoparticle Biology medicine.disease_cause complex mixtures Article Astrobiology Atmosphere Soil Fusarium Pollen Botany medicine Particle Size Betula Mycelium Multidisciplinary Atmospheric science Environmental sciences Ice fungi Water Models Theoretical Spore Molecular Weight 13. Climate action Chromatography Gel Ice nucleus Nanoparticles Particle size |
| Zdroj: | Scientific Reports, 5 Scientific Reports |
| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
| Popis: | Most studies of the role of biological entities as atmospheric ice-nucleating particles have focused on relatively rare supermicron particles such as bacterial cells, fungal spores and pollen grains. However, it is not clear that there are sufficient numbers of these particles in the atmosphere to strongly influence clouds. Here we show that the ice-nucleating activity of a fungus from the ubiquitous genus Fusarium is related to the presence of nanometre-scale particles which are far more numerous and therefore potentially far more important for cloud glaciation than whole intact spores or hyphae. In addition, we quantify the ice-nucleating activity of nano-ice nucleating particles (nano-INPs) washed off pollen and also show that nano-INPs are present in a soil sample. Based on these results, we suggest that there is a reservoir of biological nano-INPs present in the environment which may, for example, become aerosolised in association with fertile soil dust particles. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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