Publication

Perspectives on the Desert dust Contribution to Ice Nucleation in Mixed-phase Clouds and Associated Radiative Forcing

2025

Abstract

Wind-driven erosion of arid and semi-arid surfaces produces desert dust, the primary source of ice-nucleating particles (INP) in the atmosphere. These particles play a crucial role in the phase partitioning of mixed-phase clouds (MPCs) by influencing heterogeneous freezing processes. As global warming progresses, the shift from ice to liquid water in MPCs is anticipated to increase cloud reflectivity, potentially cooling the planet. However, the uncertainty surrounding this negative cloud-phase feedback is substantial, mainly due to uncertainties in the magnitude, spatiotemporal distribution, and trends of INP.In dust-enriched environments, MPC glaciation is intricately linked to dust abundance and INP efficiency. Increased dust concentrations may enhance ice crystal formation, reducing overall cloud albedo and inducing a positive radiative effect, thereby diminishing the negative cloud-phase feedback. Currently, significant knowledge gaps impede the accurate representation of INP abundance, trends, and physical/chemical properties, hindering our understanding of its impact on ice formation in MPCs and climate.This review assesses the current state-of-the-art in representing and quantifying the contribution of desert dust to ice nucleation in MPCs and its associated radiative forcing. Additionally, we offer a perspective on how new observational constraints, such as historical dust trends, satellite retrievals of quartz and feldspar surface abundances, recent measurements of mineral size distributions and mixing state at emission, and improved modeling with tailored ageing schemes, could help mitigate the existing uncertainties in estimating dust forcing via interactions with mixed-phase clouds.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/af686d8e-e2e7-4f16-bda5-373133b394c4

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2025

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/af686d8e-e2e7-4f16-bda5-373133b394c4

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Cloud feedback

Cloud feedback is the coupling between cloudiness and surface air temperature where a surface air temperature change leads to a change in clouds, which could then amplify or diminish the initial temperature perturbation. Cloud feedbacks can affect the magnitude of internally generated climate variability or they can affect the magnitude of climate change resulting from external radiative forcings. Global warming is expected to change the distribution and type of clouds.

Cloud albedo

Cloud albedo is a measure of the albedo or reflectivity of a cloud. Clouds regulate the amount of solar radiation absorbed by a planet and its solar surface irradiance. Generally, increased cloud cover correlates to a higher albedo and a lower absorption of solar energy. Cloud albedo strongly influences the Earth's energy budget, accounting for approximately half of Earth's albedo. Cloud albedo depends on the total mass of water, the size and shape of the droplets or particles and their distribution in space.

Cloud condensation nuclei

Cloud condensation nuclei (CCNs), also known as cloud seeds, are small particles typically 0.2 μm, or one hundredth the size of a cloud droplet. CCNs are a unique subset of aerosols in the atmosphere on which water vapour condenses. This can affect the radiative properties of clouds and the overall atmosphere. Water requires a non-gaseous surface to make the transition from a vapour to a liquid; this process is called condensation. In the atmosphere of Earth, this surface presents itself as tiny solid or liquid particles called CCNs.

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