2023/05/11 by J. Kretzschmar, Kretzschmar, Jan, Mira L. Pöhlker +9 · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Aeolian processes and effects #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #Cryospheric studies and observations #FOS: Physical sciences #Plant responses to elevated CO2
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2305.06758
openalex publication_date 2023/05/11 · openalex created_date 2023/05/13 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The ability of pollen to enable the glaciation of supercooled liquid water has been demonstrated in laboratory studies; however, the potential large-scale effect of trees and pollen on clouds, precipitation and climate is pressing knowledge to better understand and project clouds in the current and future climate. Combining ground-based measurements of pollen concentrations and satellite observations of cloud properties within the United States, we show that enhanced pollen concentrations during springtime lead to a higher cloud ice fraction. We further establish the link from the pollen-induced increase in cloud ice to a higher precipitation frequency. In light of anthropogenic climate change, the extended and strengthened pollen season and future alterations in biodiversity can introduce a localized climate forcing and a modification of the precipitation frequency and intensity.