Ice-Nucleating Particles Are Emitted by Raindrop Impact

C. Mignani; T. C. J. Hill; M. Nieto-Caballero; K R Barry; N. C. Bryan; P. J. Marinescu; B. Dolan; A. P. Sullivan; M. Hernandez; A. Bosco-Lauth; S. C. van den Heever; E. A. Stone; L. D. Grant; R. J. Perkins; P. J. DeMott; S. M. Kreidenweis

doi:10.1029/2024JD042584

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Ice-Nucleating Particles Are Emitted by Raindrop Impact

Journal article

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Ice-Nucleating Particles Are Emitted by Raindrop Impact

C. Mignani, T. C. J. Hill, M. Nieto-Caballero, K R Barry, N. C. Bryan, P. J. Marinescu, B. Dolan, A. P. Sullivan, M. Hernandez, A. Bosco-Lauth, …

Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres, Vol.130(11), e2024JD042584

06/16/2025

DOI: 10.1029/2024JD042584

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Abstract

Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) play a key role in ice formation and cloud microphysics and thus significantly impact the water cycle and the climate. However, our understanding of atmospheric INPs, particularly their sources, emissions, and spatiotemporal variability, is incomplete. While the enhancement of atmospheric INP concentrations with rainfall has been previously shown, a mechanistic understanding of the process is lacking. Here, we link detailed precipitation observations with near-surface atmospheric INP concentrations at a semiarid grassland site in Colorado. Considering the during-precipitation air samples, INP concentrations positively correlate with cumulative rainfall kinetic energy and amount, suggesting that INP aerosolization is induced by raindrop and hailstone impact. By additionally analyzing the INP content of precipitation water, terrestrial source samples, and heat-treated samples, we demonstrate that local plants are the most plausible source of rain-induced INPs during a precipitation event. Should INPs aerosolized by precipitation rise to cloud height, they could influence cloud ice fraction and initiate precipitation resulting in an aerosol-cloud-precipitation feedback.

Physical Sciences

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Ice-Nucleating Particles Are Emitted by Raindrop Impact
Creators: C. Mignani - Colorado State University
T. C. J. Hill - Colorado State University
M. Nieto-Caballero - Colorado State University
K R Barry - Colorado State University
N. C. Bryan - Colorado State University
P. J. Marinescu - Colorado State University
B. Dolan - Colorado State University
A. P. Sullivan - Colorado State University
M. Hernandez - University of Colorado Boulder
A. Bosco-Lauth - Colorado State University
S. C. van den Heever - Colorado State University
E. A. Stone - University of Iowa, Chemistry
L. D. Grant - Colorado State University
R. J. Perkins - Colorado State University
P. J. DeMott - Colorado State University
S. M. Kreidenweis - Colorado State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres, Vol.130(11), e2024JD042584
DOI: 10.1029/2024JD042584
ISSN: 2169-897X
eISSN: 2169-8996
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
Number of pages: 18
Grant note: National Science Foundation through funding BACS Swiss National Science Foundation; Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF) P500PN_206661 / NEON Assignable Assets program One Health Institute at Colorado State University AGS-2105938; AGS-2106370; DBI-2120117 / U.S. Department of Agriculture agency of Agricultural Research Service NEON Program
Language: English
Date published: 06/16/2025
Academic Unit: Chemistry; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984829884902771

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