Clouds are a complex and poorly understood component of the climate system, representing a significant uncertainty in climate change predictions. Understanding clouds requires knowledge of large-scale weather systems and the minute details of microphysics.
The study, focusing on marine stratus clouds, reveals that even smaller-than-expected aerosol particles can act as cloud condensation nuclei. Traditionally, it was believed that particles needed to be at least 60 nanometers to facilitate cloud formation. However, the collaboration between scientists from the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggests a critical size as small as 25-30 nanometers could suffice.
"Since the proto seeds can be much smaller than previously thought, cloud formation is more sensitive to changes in aerosols than previously thought, especially in pristine areas where marine stratus clouds are dominant", explains Henrik Svensmark, a Senior Researcher at DTU Space and lead author of the paper.
The study utilized measurements of marine stratus clouds taken in 2014 by researchers in Nevada, along with global satellite data from the MODIS instrument. These resources helped establish a clearer understanding of the relationship between cloud droplet formation and atmospheric supersaturation.
Surprisingly, the findings indicate that atmospheric supersaturation levels are generally higher than assumed, allowing even smaller aerosol particles to serve effectively as cloud condensation nuclei. This challenges the current understanding that cloud formation is relatively insensitive to the production of small aerosols due to their growth time and the likelihood of being lost before reaching the critical size.
"It doesn't look like much, but the implications may be big," comments Henrik Svensmark. The study underscores the need for revised models that account for these findings, which could significantly alter future cloud behavior and climate forecasts.
Research Report:Supersaturation and Critical Size of Cloud Condensation Nuclei in Marine Stratus Clouds
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Technical University of Denmark
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