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Updated: May 20, 2025
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
9.5K
Release of ice-nucleating particles from leaves during rainfall
1Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland. franz.conen@unibas.ch.
Die Naturwissenschaften
|March 25, 2025
Summary
Plant leaves release ice-nucleating particles (INPs) during rain, with most INPs washing off early in the event. Most INPs remain on leaves after rainfall, suggesting bacterial surfactants influence release patterns.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric science
- Microbiology
- Plant science
Background:
- Plant surfaces host ice-nucleating particles (INPs) crucial for cloud formation.
- Rainfall is known to release INPs from vegetation, but release dynamics are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal dynamics of INP release from plant leaf surfaces during rainfall.
- To compare INP concentrations in leaf runoff with rainwater.
- To assess the total INP removal from leaf surfaces post-rainfall.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution temporal monitoring of INP concentrations in leaf runoff and rainwater.
- Quantification of INP inventories on Juglans regia leaflets before and after rain events.
- Analysis of INP release patterns throughout two distinct rain events.
Main Results:
- Leaf runoff was significantly enriched in INPs compared to rainwater during both events.
- A substantial portion of INPs was released early in the rainfall events.
- Less than 40% of detachable INPs were removed from leaf surfaces after the rain events, except at higher temperatures.
Conclusions:
- Rainfall rapidly releases INPs from plant surfaces, with initial release being dominant.
- Bacterial surfactant excretion is hypothesized to influence the observed INP release patterns.
- Further research into microbial contributions to atmospheric INP dynamics is warranted.
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