Aerosols Impact Cloud Formation
Aerosols are complex particles; they occur in nature and can also be generated by human activity. One important new area of aerosol research involves how aerosols impact clouds. Without aerosols, clouds could not exist. Aerosol particles serve as condensation nuclei for water vapor in the atmosphere. Atmospheric water molecules are drawn to aerosol particles like magnets, forming water droplets and eventually creating a cloud. The introduction of a larger number of aerosols will modify cloud's natural properties, leading to an accumulation of water droplets that are smaller in size but greater in number. Clouds play an important role in regulating Earth's climate; aerosol-rich air masses generate clouds that are bigger, brighter, and longer lasting.
This animation shows how a cloud is formed on the particle-level. Water droplets and black soot carbon aerosols mix in the air. Water droplets cling to aerosol particles, creating a larger water droplet. The droplet becomes very large and 'pops' into smaller water droplets, each with an aerosol particle inside, thus creating a cloud.
Animation of ocean salt acting as cloud condensation nuclei.
Close-up of black soot particle and water droplets.
Close-up of water droplets condensing on ocean salt particles.
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Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
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Animator
- Megan Willy (IRC/UMBC)
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Producer
- Maria Frostic (UMBC)
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Scientist
- Michael Mishchenko (NASA/GSFC GISS)
Release date
This page was originally published on Thursday, February 19, 2009.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:54 PM EDT.