Microcline reveals how a common mineral surface triggers ice formation in clouds
Pure water freezes only at around -38°C (-36°F).
Pure water freezes only at around -38°C (-36°F).
The short version
- Tiny mineral dust particles act as so-called ice nucleators—crystallization seeds on which ice crystals form.
- The study, published in published in the journal Nature Communications, provides a new explanation for processes that influence climate and precipitation worldwide.
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
What happened
Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The process under investigation helps determine when water in clouds freezes, how much precipitation falls and how strongly clouds reflect sunlight. All of these factors play a crucial role in the climate.
Why it matters
"We wanted to understand why microcline is so exceptionally good at forming ice, even though it differs only slightly in chemical composition from other feldspars, a group of common rock-forming minerals," says Dr.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.