Press Release 09-100 Scientists Make First Direct Observations
of Biological Particles in High-Altitude Clouds Airborne dust
and microbial matter appear to play large role in ice formation
in clouds May 17, 2009 A team of atmospheric chemists has moved
closer to what's considered the "holy grail" of climate change
science: the first-ever direct detections of biological
particles within ice clouds. The team, led by Kimberly Prather
and Kerri Pratt of the University of California at San Diego,
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, sampled water droplet and
ice crystal residues at high speeds while flying through clouds
in the skies over Wyoming. Analysis of the ice crystals revealed
that the particles that started their growth were made up almost
entirely of either dust or biological material such as bacteria,
fungal spores and plant material. While it has long been known
that microorganisms become airborne and travel great distances,
this study is the first to yield direct data on how they work to
influence clo