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Export of ice nucleating particles from a watershed.
Jarl Are Larsen1, Franz Conen1, Christine Alewell1
1Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, Basel, 4056, Switzerland.
Biological ice nucleating particles (INPs) are crucial for cloud formation. This study quantifies INP production in a Swiss watershed, revealing their persistence and transport via rivers.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Environmental Science
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Ice nucleating particles (INPs) influence cloud properties and precipitation.
- Biological sources are significant but their environmental production rates are poorly understood.
- Current knowledge relies on laboratory studies of collected samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the production rate of INPs in a large watershed.
- To investigate the environmental persistence and transport mechanisms of INPs.
- To link biological INP sources to atmospheric processes.
Main Methods:
- Measured INP concentrations in river water over 16 months.
- Combined INP data with river discharge rates.
- Estimated INP production and export from the watershed.
Main Results:
- A lower limit for INP production rate was determined for a Swiss watershed (4 × 10^5 INP m^-2 d^-1).
- INPs can retain ice nucleating potential for months in the environment.
- Intensive rainfall mobilizes INPs, leading to river export.
Conclusions:
- Rivers act as significant pathways for INP export from terrestrial ecosystems.
- Understanding INP environmental dynamics is crucial for climate modeling.
- Biological INPs have a measurable impact on watershed biogeochemistry and atmospheric processes.
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