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Updated: Feb 11, 2026
09:36
The Use of High-resolution Infrared Thermography HRIT for the Study of Ice Nucleation and Ice Propagation in Plants
Published on: May 8, 2015
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The study of atmospheric ice-nucleating particles via microfluidically generated droplets
Mark D Tarn1,2, Sebastien N F Sikora1, Grace C E Porter1,2
11School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK.
Microfluidics and Nanofluidics
|May 4, 2018
Summary
A new microfluidic device offers a sensitive and rapid method for quantifying ice-nucleating particles (INPs) in the atmosphere. This technology improves upon traditional methods, enabling better understanding of INPs
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Environmental Science
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are crucial for cloud formation, precipitation, and climate regulation.
- Quantifying INPs is challenging due to their low concentrations and limitations of existing measurement techniques.
- Understanding INP sources and concentrations is vital for climate and hydrological cycle research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel microfluidic device for the sensitive and rapid quantification of atmospheric INPs.
- To validate the microfluidic platform using known INP types (mineral dust, biological species).
- To develop and test an aerosol sampling methodology compatible with the microfluidic device.
Main Methods:
- Application of microfluidic devices for generating monodisperse droplets and observing freezing on a cold stage.
- Testing of mineral dust and biological INPs against the microfluidic platform.
- Development of an aerosol sampling technique minimizing bias for microfluidic analysis.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated high sensitivity and counting statistics for INP quantification using the microfluidic device.
- Validated the platform's performance by comparing results with established literature values for various INPs.
- Presented initial atmospheric INP concentration data from rural UK and Bonfire Night festival field campaigns.
Conclusions:
- The microfluidic device provides a promising, high-throughput method for studying atmospheric INPs.
- The developed methodology enables accurate INP measurements from aerosol samples.
- This platform facilitates future global field campaigns and advances lab-on-a-chip INP research.
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