{"id":124301,"date":"2024-11-10T17:32:11","date_gmt":"2024-11-10T10:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=124301"},"modified":"2024-11-10T17:32:11","modified_gmt":"2024-11-10T10:32:11","slug":"microplastics-may-be-entering-the-clouds-and-affecting-the-weather-scientists-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=124301","title":{"rendered":"Microplastics may be entering the clouds and affecting the weather, scientists say"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\" id=\"article-body\">\n<p><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/tag\/clouds\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/tag\/clouds\"><u>Clouds<\/u><\/a> form when water vapor \u2014 an invisible gas in the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/64825-why-earth-has-an-atmosphere.html\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/64825-why-earth-has-an-atmosphere.html\"><u>atmosphere<\/u><\/a> \u2014 sticks to tiny floating particles, such as dust, and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/climatekids.nasa.gov\/cloud-formation\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/climatekids.nasa.gov\/cloud-formation\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>turns into liquid water droplets or ice crystals<\/u><\/a>. In a newly published study, we show that <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1021\/acsestair.4c00146\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1021\/acsestair.4c00146\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>microplastic particles can have the same effects<\/u><\/a>, producing ice crystals at temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (9 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than droplets without microplastics.<\/p>\n<p>This suggests that microplastics in the air may affect <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/planet-earth\/weather\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/planet-earth\/weather\"><u>weather<\/u><\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/planet-earth\/climate-change\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/planet-earth\/climate-change\"><u>climate<\/u><\/a> by producing clouds in conditions where they would not form otherwise.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"hawk-nest\" data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\"\/>\n<p>We are <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en&amp;user=-XRtlGEAAAAJ\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en&amp;user=-XRtlGEAAAAJ\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>atmospheric<\/u><\/a> <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=de&amp;user=t-_jCPkAAAAJ\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=de&amp;user=t-_jCPkAAAAJ\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>chemists<\/u><\/a> who study how different types of particles form ice when they come into contact with liquid water. This process, which occurs constantly in the atmosphere, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/nucleation\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/nucleation\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>is called nucleation<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <\/strong><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/health\/humans-inhale-a-credit-cards-worth-of-microplastics-every-week-heres-where-it-ends-up\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/health\/humans-inhale-a-credit-cards-worth-of-microplastics-every-week-heres-where-it-ends-up\"><u><strong>Humans inhale a staggering amount of microplastic every week. Here&#8217;s where it ends up.<\/strong><\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Clouds in the atmosphere can be made up of <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/jetstream\/clouds\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/jetstream\/clouds\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>liquid water droplets, ice particles or a mixture<\/u><\/a> of the two. In clouds in the mid- to upper atmosphere where temperatures are between 32 and minus 36 F (0 to minus 38 C), ice crystals normally form around mineral dust particles from dry soils or biological particles, such as pollen or bacteria.<\/p>\n<p>Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters wide \u2014 about the size of a pencil eraser. Some are microscopic. Scientists have found them in <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.0c03441\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.0c03441\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>Antarctic deep seas<\/u><\/a>, the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/environment\/article\/microplastics-found-near-everests-peak-highest-ever-detected-world-perpetual-planet\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/environment\/article\/microplastics-found-near-everests-peak-highest-ever-detected-world-perpetual-planet\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>summit of Mount Everest<\/u><\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smart-news\/in-a-first-microplastics-are-found-in-fresh-antarctic-snow-180980264\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smart-news\/in-a-first-microplastics-are-found-in-fresh-antarctic-snow-180980264\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>fresh Antarctic snow<\/u><\/a>. Because these fragments are so small, they can be easily <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cen.acs.org\/environment\/pollution\/Scientists-race-study-microplastic-pollution\/100\/i7\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/cen.acs.org\/environment\/pollution\/Scientists-race-study-microplastic-pollution\/100\/i7\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>transported in the air<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-video youtube-facade\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"video-aspect-box\">\n<div class=\"watch-on-iframe-UZEETyzql0Q\" data-yt-video-token=\"UZEETyzql0Q\" title=\"What Are Clouds, and How Do They Form? - YouTube\">\n<span class=\"youtube-video-title\">What Are Clouds, and How Do They Form? &#8211; YouTube<\/span><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/UZEETyzql0Q\/maxresdefault.jpg\" alt=\"What Are Clouds, and How Do They Form? - YouTube\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"play-button\" viewbox=\"0 0 234.67 165.33\"><path fill=\"red\" d=\"M229.763 25.817c-2.699-10.162-10.65-18.165-20.748-20.881C190.716 0 117.333 0 117.333 0S43.951 0 25.651 4.936C15.553 7.652 7.6 15.655 4.903 25.817 0 44.236 0 82.667 0 82.667s0 38.429 4.903 56.85C7.6 149.68 15.553 157.681 25.65 160.4c18.3 4.934 91.682 4.934 91.682 4.934s73.383 0 91.682-4.934c10.098-2.718 18.049-10.72 20.748-20.882 4.904-18.421 4.904-56.85 4.904-56.85s0-38.431-4.904-56.85\"\/><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"m93.333 117.559 61.333-34.89-61.333-34.894z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<a class=\"watch-on-youtube-UZEETyzql0Q\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/UZEETyzql0Q\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/UZEETyzql0Q\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch On <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"youtube-logo\" viewbox=\"0 0 507.9 113.39\"><g fill=\"#fff\"><path d=\"M64.792 80.99V32.396l42.082 24.297zm93.803-63.285a20.285 20.285 0 0 0-14.32-14.32C131.642 0 80.99 0 80.99 0S30.337 0 17.705 3.385a20.286 20.286 0 0 0-14.32 14.32C0 30.338 0 56.693 0 56.693S0 83.049 3.385 95.68A20.285 20.285 0 0 0 17.705 110c12.632 3.386 63.285 3.386 63.285 3.386s50.652 0 63.285-3.386a20.284 20.284 0 0 0 14.32-14.32c3.385-12.632 3.385-38.988 3.385-38.988s0-26.355-3.385-38.988m94.473 74.326c.887-2.314 1.332-6.098 1.332-11.35V58.556c0-5.097-.445-8.822-1.332-11.178-.888-2.355-2.452-3.533-4.69-3.533-2.163 0-3.69 1.178-4.577 3.533-.888 2.356-1.332 6.081-1.332 11.178V80.68c0 5.25.424 9.035 1.275 11.35.848 2.318 2.392 3.475 4.633 3.475 2.239 0 3.803-1.157 4.691-3.475zm-17.953 11.122c-3.207-2.16-5.486-5.52-6.835-10.079-1.352-4.554-2.027-10.617-2.027-18.185v-10.31c0-7.644.771-13.784 2.316-18.417 1.544-4.633 3.956-8.011 7.24-10.135 3.282-2.123 7.587-3.186 12.916-3.186 5.251 0 9.459 1.082 12.626 3.243 3.165 2.162 5.482 5.542 6.95 10.136 1.466 4.595 2.2 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13.594 3.591 18.766h.464c.54-3.706 1.738-9.922 3.591-18.65l6.603-29.886h15.869l-18.417 65.68v31.51h-15.754v-31.51M322.115 34.23v71.007h-12.511l-1.39-8.688h-.347c-3.399 6.564-8.496 9.845-15.291 9.845-4.71 0-8.185-1.543-10.425-4.633-2.24-3.087-3.359-7.915-3.359-14.48V34.23h15.985v52.126c0 3.168.348 5.426 1.043 6.776.695 1.353 1.853 2.027 3.475 2.027 1.39 0 2.722-.423 3.996-1.275 1.274-.849 2.22-1.928 2.838-3.241V34.229h15.986m81.995.001v71.007h-12.511l-1.391-8.688h-.345c-3.402 6.564-8.498 9.845-15.292 9.845-4.711 0-8.186-1.543-10.426-4.633-2.24-3.087-3.358-7.915-3.358-14.48V34.23h15.985v52.126c0 3.168.347 5.426 1.041 6.776.696 1.353 1.855 2.027 3.476 2.027 1.391 0 2.723-.423 3.996-1.275 1.275-.849 2.22-1.928 2.839-3.241V34.229h15.985\"\/><path d=\"M365.552 20.908h-15.87v84.329h-15.637v-84.33h-15.869V8.05h47.376v12.858m76.811 53.636c0 5.174-.215 9.229-.639 12.162-.424 2.937-1.139 5.021-2.143 6.255-1.004 1.236-2.357 1.854-4.053 1.854a7.404 7.404 0 0 1-3.65-.927c-1.12-.618-2.026-1.544-2.722-2.78V50.796c.54-1.93 1.467-3.513 2.78-4.749 1.313-1.234 2.74-1.853 4.285-1.853 1.623 0 2.876.637 3.766 1.91.886 1.275 1.505 3.418 1.853 6.43.348 3.011.523 7.297.523 12.857zm14.652-28.964c-.967-4.478-2.531-7.721-4.692-9.73-2.163-2.007-5.136-3.011-8.919-3.011-2.935 0-5.676.83-8.224 2.49a16.926 16.926 0 0 0-5.908 6.545h-.117l.001-37.416h-15.405v100.777h13.204l1.622-6.717h.347c1.235 2.393 3.088 4.285 5.56 5.675 2.47 1.39 5.213 2.085 8.225 2.085 5.404 0 9.382-2.491 11.931-7.471 2.548-4.982 3.823-12.76 3.823-23.341V64.23c0-7.953-.484-14.17-1.448-18.65\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"why-it-matters-3\">Why it matters<\/h2>\n<p>Ice in clouds has important effects on weather and climate because most precipitation typically <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/education.nationalgeographic.org\/resource\/precipitation\/#\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/education.nationalgeographic.org\/resource\/precipitation\/#\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>starts as ice particles<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-5LgL4mkfVb9Rckxaqp7x2J\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-5LgL4mkfVb9Rckxaqp7x2J slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Get the world\u2019s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many cloud tops in nontropical zones around the world extend high enough into the atmosphere that cold air causes some of their moisture to freeze. Then, once ice forms, it <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/source\/zhu\/ZHU_Training_Page\/clouds\/cloud_development\/clouds.htm\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/source\/zhu\/ZHU_Training_Page\/clouds\/cloud_development\/clouds.htm\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>draws water vapor<\/u><\/a> from the liquid droplets around it, and the crystals grow heavy enough to fall. If ice doesn&#8217;t develop, clouds tend to evaporate rather than causing rain or snowfall.<\/p>\n<p>While children learn in grade school that water freezes at 32 F (0 C), that&#8217;s not always true. Without something to nucleate onto, such as dust particles, water <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/source\/zhu\/ZHU_Training_Page\/clouds\/cloud_development\/clouds.htm\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/source\/zhu\/ZHU_Training_Page\/clouds\/cloud_development\/clouds.htm\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>can be supercooled<\/u><\/a> to temperatures as low as minus 36 F (minus 38 C) before it freezes.<\/p>\n<p>For freezing to occur at warmer temperatures, some kind of material that won&#8217;t dissolve in water needs to be present in the droplet. This particle provides a surface where the first ice crystal can form. If microplastics are present, they could cause ice crystals to form, potentially increasing rain or snowfall.<\/p>\n<p>Clouds also <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/climatekids.nasa.gov\/cloud-climate\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/climatekids.nasa.gov\/cloud-climate\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>affect weather and climate<\/u><\/a> in several ways. They reflect incoming sunlight away from Earth&#8217;s surface, which has a cooling effect, and absorb some radiation that is emitted from Earth&#8217;s surface, which has a warming effect.<\/p>\n<p>The amount of sunlight reflected depends on <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/earthobservatory.nasa.gov\/features\/Clouds\/clouds.php\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/earthobservatory.nasa.gov\/features\/Clouds\/clouds.php\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>how much liquid water vs. ice a cloud contains<\/u><\/a>. If microplastics increase the presence of ice particles in clouds compared with liquid water droplets, this shifting ratio could change clouds&#8217; effect on Earth&#8217;s energy balance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1200px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:77.17%;\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-320-80.jpg\" alt=\"A diagram showing how energy is absorbed and released by Earth's atmosphere\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9FMiWtMJUZN32waeLdS5SR.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The Earth constantly receives energy from the Sun and reflects it back into space. Clouds have both warming and cooling effects in this process. <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: NOAA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"how-we-did-our-work-3\">How we did our work<\/h2>\n<p>To see whether microplastic fragments could serve as nuclei for water droplets, we used four of the most prevalent types of plastics in the atmosphere: low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate. Each was tested both in a pristine state and after exposure to ultraviolet light, ozone and acids. All of these are present in the atmosphere and could affect the composition of the microplastics.<\/p>\n<p>We suspended the microplastics in small water droplets and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZoDeNnTAz-Y\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZoDeNnTAz-Y\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>slowly cooled the droplets to observe when they froze<\/u><\/a>. We also analyzed the plastic fragments&#8217; surfaces to determine their molecular structure, since ice nucleation could depend on the microplastics&#8217; surface chemistry.<\/p>\n<p>For most of the plastics we studied, 50% of the droplets were frozen by the time they cooled to minus 8 F (minus 22 C). These results parallel those from another recent study by Canadian scientists, who also found that some types of microplastics <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acs.est.4c02639\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acs.est.4c02639\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>nucleate ice at warmer temperatures<\/u><\/a> than droplets without microplastics.<\/p>\n<p>Exposure to ultraviolet radiation, ozone and acids tended to decrease ice nucleation activity on the particles. This suggests that ice nucleation is sensitive to small chemical changes on the surface of microplastic particles. However, these plastics still nucleated ice, so they could still affect the amount of ice in clouds.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-still-isn-t-known-3\">What still isn&#8217;t known<\/h2>\n<p>To understand how microplastics affect weather and climate, we need to know their concentrations at the altitudes where clouds form. We also need to understand the concentration of microplastics compared with other particles that could nucleate ice, such as mineral dust and biological particles, to see whether microplastics are present at comparable levels. These measurements would allow us to model the impact of microplastics on cloud formation.<\/p>\n<p>Plastic fragments come in many sizes and compositions. In future research, we plan to work with plastics that contain additives, such as plasticizers and colorants, as well as with smaller plastic particles.<\/p>\n<p><em>The <\/em><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us\/topics\/research-brief-83231\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us\/topics\/research-brief-83231\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u><em>Research Brief<\/em><\/u><\/a><em> is a short take about interesting academic work.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This edited article is republished from <\/em><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/\" data-url=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u><em>The Conversation<\/em><\/u><\/a><em> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <\/em><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/microplastics-promote-cloud-formation-with-likely-effects-on-weather-and-climate-240192\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/microplastics-promote-cloud-formation-with-likely-effects-on-weather-and-climate-240192\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\"><u><em>original article<\/em><\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe allow=\"\" height=\"1\" width=\"1\" data-lazy-priority=\"low\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/240192\/count.gif\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/planet-earth\/climate-change\/microplastics-may-be-entering-the-clouds-and-affecting-the-weather-scientists-say\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clouds form when water vapor \u2014 an invisible gas in the atmosphere \u2014 sticks to tiny floating particles, such as dust, and turns into liquid water droplets or ice crystals. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=124301\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8628],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=124301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124301\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=124301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=124301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=124301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}