CLimate Effects of biological aerosols in the ARctic (CLEAR)
Navn på bevillingshaver
Tina Santl-Temkiv
Titel
Associate Professor
Institution
Aarhus University
Beløb
DKK 6,998,039
År
2024
Bevillingstype
Semper Ardens: Accelerate
Hvad?
The main aims of the CLEAR project are to understand which terrestrial microbes are most important for the cloud formation in the Arctic, and to figure out how these microorganisms and the molecules they produce can initiate formation of droplets and ice crystals in clouds. This knowledge will be used to improve current weather and climate models.
Hvorfor?
Clouds play an important role for the Arctic climate, which is warming 4-times faster than the rest of our planet. Cloud formation is linked to the presence of tiny particles. These include biological particles, which can initiate ice formation, a process essential for cloud lifetime and cooling effect. We therefore urgently need to understand the origin and activity of these biological particles.
Hvordan?
CLEAR is an interdisciplinary project which combines advanced field and laboratory studies. We will study a large number of soil, plant and atmosphere samples from Greenland to find the key sources of biological particles involved in Arctic cloud formation. Microorganisms and biomolecules will be investigated under simulated atmospheric conditions to understand their activity in Arctic clouds.