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Researchers have discovered a new process of particle formation in Earth's atmosphere that could completely change current climate theories. The mixing of stratospheric and tropospheric air brings promising advances to climate modeling
Recently, an intriguing discovery shook the field of atmospheric science: researchers at Washington University, in St. Louis, found a new mechanism for particle formation in the Earth's atmosphere.
This discovery challenges traditional theories and could help improve climate models by providing more accurate insight into cloud formation and weather behavior. climate in the future.
The complexity of particles in the Earth's atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere is a complex mixture of constantly moving gases and particles. These particles, although extremely small—typically less than 1 percent the width of a human hair—have an enormous influence on Earth's climate. planet.
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They act as seeds for the formation of cloud droplets, directly impacting reflectivity, precipitation amounts and global climate. Understanding how these particles form and behave in the atmosphere is essential for predicting climate change.
The revolutionary discovery
The research team, led by Jian Wang, professor and director of the Center for Aerosol Science and Engineering at WashU, has made a groundbreaking discovery. Using global data collected by NASA, the scientists realized that the formation of new particles in Earth’s atmosphere does not occur predominantly in the outflow regions of clouds, as previously believed.
Previous understanding suggested that when clouds evaporate upon reaching the upper troposphere, the resulting air would be cleared, allowing new particles to form. However, Wang and his team found evidence that most new particles are not generated at these points. This unexpected revelation prompted a deeper look at what was happening in the mixing of air in the stratosphere and troposphere.
The Importance of Stratosphere-Troposphere Mixing
The new research highlights a process that occurs when ozone-rich air from the stratosphere sinks into the troposphere, the layer closest to the surface of the Earth.
This interaction between stratospheric air and more humid tropospheric air results in an elevated concentration of hydroxyl radicals (OH), an important oxidant that facilitates the formation of new particles.
The phenomenon of mixing between these atmospheric layers is common around the world, occurring mainly due to winding jet streams. These currents, which are fast and strong air flows, cause the air in the stratosphere to descend and mix with that in the troposphere.
The high concentration of OH radicals created in this process makes the environment suitable for nucleation, which leads to the formation of new particles.
This finding has global implications, as this process occurs widely, including in remote areas that are largely unaffected by human pollution. “Although humans contribute their own particles in the form of air pollution, what we discovered is a natural process that occurs across the planet,” said Jiaoshi Zhang, the study’s first author and a research scientist in Wang’s lab.
Implications for the climate
An important aspect of this finding is that stratospheric air may dip into the troposphere more frequently in the future as climate changes continue to affect Earth’s climate system. This means that the newly identified particle formation mechanism could play an even more significant role in global climate, impacting how clouds form and, consequently, how the weather behaves.
Including this process in climate models could significantly improve the prediction of climate change, allowing scientists to better simulate the behavior of atmospheric particles and their influences on future climate.
Wang and his team’s discovery represents a major advance in our understanding of Earth’s atmosphere. What began as an unexpected observation has turned into a new understanding of the interaction between stratospheric and tropospheric air, challenging previous theories and opening up new possibilities for climate research.
As scientists continue to investigate and quantify this newly discovered mechanism, the hope is that this knowledge can be used to improve climate predictions and help address the challenges of global warming.
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