Microbial ice nucleators scavenged from the atmosphere during simulated rain events

Hanlon, Regina; Powers, Craig; Failor, Kevin C.; Monteil, Caroline; Vinatzer, Boris A.; Schmale, David G.

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.05.030

Cited by 22 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Conversely, microbial cells were diluted in heavy rainfalls compared with slight precipitation events (p = 0.01 with the daily precipitation rate; n = 62; Table S3). This indicated a notable contribution of wash-out processes to the pool of microbial cells observed in precipitation, as proposed earlier [52], but no or negligible influence on INPs.…”

Section: Relations Between Inps Origin Of Air Mass and Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…Although it is not the purpose of this study to investigate long Rain carries particles and solutes from high altitudes to the ground. The material present in precipitation originates in part from the clouds, and also from aerosols scavenged on the path of falling drops, so its composition reflects both the composition of the clouds and of the air column underneath (e.g., [47,51,52]. Analyzing precipitation thus gives the unique possibility to access to large integrated atmospheric samples.…”

Section: Relations Between Inps Origin Of Air Mass and Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Atmospheric Processing and Variability of Biological Ice Nucleating Particles in Precipitation at Opme, France

et al. 2017

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Atmospheric ice nucleating particles (INPs) contribute to initiate precipitation. In particular, biological INPs act at warmer temperatures than other types of particles (>−10 • C) therefore potentially defining precipitation distribution. Here, in order to identify potential environmental drivers in the distribution and fate of biological INPs in the atmosphere, we conducted a mid-term study of the freezing characteristics of precipitation. A total of 121 samples were collected during a period of >1.5 years at the rural site of Opme (680 m a.s.l. (above sea level), France). INP concentration ranged over two orders of magnitude at a given temperature depending on the sample; there were <1 INPs mL −1 at ≥−5 • C,~0.1 to 10 mL −1 between −5 • C and −8 • C, and~1 to 100 mL −1 at colder temperatures. The data support the existence of an intimate natural link between biological INPs and hydrological cycles. In addition, acidification was strongly correlated with a decrease of the freezing characteristics of the samples, suggesting that human activities impact the role of INPs as triggers of precipitation. Water isotope ratio measurements and statistical comparison with aerosol and cloud water data confirmed some extent of INP partitioning in the atmosphere, with the INPs active at the warmest temperatures tending to be more efficiently precipitated.

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Section: Relations Between Inps Origin Of Air Mass and Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 56%

Section: Relations Between Inps Origin Of Air Mass and Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric Processing and Variability of Biological Ice Nucleating Particles in Precipitation at Opme, France

et al. 2017

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“…, Hanlon et al. ). Because aerosolized microbial INPs may trigger ice formation and be‐scavenged‐by precipitation, they are predicted to have much shorter atmospheric residence times than other microbes (Burrows et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Still, other microbial taxa are metabolically active in fog (Fuzzi et al 1997) and supercooled cloud droplets (Sattler et al 2001), apparently using organic acids and alcohols as growth substrates (Amato et al 2007, Va€ ıtilingom et al 2010. Wet deposition (washout) serves as the primary mechanism for removing bioaerosols from higher atmospheric layers , Hanlon et al 2017. Because aerosolized microbial INPs may trigger ice formation and be-scavenged-by precipitation, they are predicted to have much shorter atmospheric residence times than other microbes (Burrows et al 2009b, Stopelli et al 2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal patterns of microbial composition and diversity in precipitation

Aho

Weber

Christner

et al. 2019

Ecological Monographs

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Microbes in the atmosphere have broad ecological impacts, including the potential to trigger precipitation through species and strains that act as ice nucleation particles. To characterize spatiotemporal trends of microbial assemblages in precipitation we sequenced 16S (bacterial) and 18S (fungal) rRNA gene amplicon libraries collected from 72 precipitation events in three U.S. states (Idaho, Louisiana, and Virginia) over four seasons. We considered these data from the perspective of a novel metacommunity framework. In agreement with our heuristic, we found evidence for distinct mechanisms underlying the composition and diversity of bacterial and fungal assemblages in precipitation. Specifically, we determined that (1) bacterial operational taxonomic unit (OTU) composition of precipitation was strongly associated with macroscale drivers including season and high-altitude characteristics of storms; (2) fungal OTU composition was strongly correlated with mesoscale drivers including particular spatial locations; (3) b-diversity (heterogeneity of taxa among samples) for both bacteria and fungi was largely maintained by turnover of taxa; however, (4) bacterial assemblages had higher contributions to total b-diversity from nestedness (i.e., lower richness assemblages were largely taxonomic subsets of richer assemblages), due to losses of taxa during dispersal, particularly among potential ice nucleation active bacteria; and (5) fungal assemblages had higher contributions to total b-diversity from turnover due to OTU replacement. Spatiotemporal trends in precipitation-borne metacommunities allowed delineation of a large number of statistically significant indicator taxa for particular sites and seasons, including trends for bacteria that are potentially ice nucleation active. Our findings advance understanding regarding the dispersion of aerosolized microbes via wet deposition, and the development of theory concerning potential assembly rules for bioaerosol assemblages.

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“…Further, previous work has evaluated INP concentrations and at times composition in detritus, soil, water from lakes and oceans, surface microlayers, and precipitation samples to assess INP sources (e.g., Conen et al, 2016;Creamean et al, 2014;DeMott et al, 2016;Hill et al, 2016;Irish et al, 2017;Moffett, 2016;O'Sullivan et al, 2014;Petters and Wright, 2015;Pietsch et al, 2017;Pouzet et al, 2017;Schnell, 1977;Schnell and Vali, 1972, 1973, 1975Stopelli et al, 2015;Tobo et al, 2014). Analysis of INPs in precipitation samples takes a step in the direction of vertical profiling of INPs, making the assumption that the INPs in precipitation are what initiated ice formation in the clouds above; however, there are caveats associated with artifacts from scavenging during raindrop or snowflake descent, aerosolization methods, and redistribution of residue particles in collected liquid precipitation samples Hanlon et al, 2017;Petters and Wright, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HOVERCAT: a novel aerial system for evaluation of aerosol–cloud interactions

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Aerosols have a profound impact on cloud microphysics through their ability to serve as ice nucleating particles (INPs). As a result, cloud radiative properties and precipitation processes can be modulated by such aerosolcloud interactions. However, one of the largest uncertainties associated with atmospheric processes is the indirect effect of aerosols on clouds. The need for more advanced observations of INPs in the atmospheric vertical profile is apparent, yet most ice nucleation measurements are conducted on the ground or during infrequent and intensive airborne field campaigns. Here, we describe a novel measurement platform that is less expensive and smaller (< 5 kg) when compared to traditional aircraft and tethered balloon platforms and that can be used for evaluating two modes of ice nucleation (i.e., immersion and deposition). HOVERCAT (Honing On VERtical Cloud and Aerosol properTies) flew during a pilot study in Colorado, USA, up to 2.6 km above mean sea level (1.1 km above ground level) and consists of an aerosol module that includes an optical particle counter for size distributions (0.38-17 µm in diameter) and a new sampler that collects up to 10 filter samples for offline ice nucleation and aerosol analyses on a launched balloon platform. During the May 2017 test flight, total particle concentrations were highest closest to the ground (up to 50 cm −3 at < 50 m above ground level) and up to 2 in 10 2 particles were ice nucleation active in the immersion mode (at −23 • C). The warmest temperature immersion and deposition mode INPs (observed up to −6 and −40.4 • C, respectively) were observed closest to the ground, but overall INP concentrations did not exhibit an inverse correlation with increasing altitude. HOVERCAT is a prototype that can be further modified for other airborne platforms, including tethered balloon and unmanned aircraft systems. The versatility of HOVERCAT affords future opportunities to profile the atmospheric column for more comprehensive evaluations of aerosol-cloud interactions. Based on our test flight experiences, we provide a set of recommendations for future deployments of similar measurement systems and platforms.

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Microbial ice nucleators scavenged from the atmosphere during simulated rain events

Cited by 22 publications

References 37 publications

Atmospheric Processing and Variability of Biological Ice Nucleating Particles in Precipitation at Opme, France

Atmospheric Processing and Variability of Biological Ice Nucleating Particles in Precipitation at Opme, France

Spatiotemporal patterns of microbial composition and diversity in precipitation

HOVERCAT: a novel aerial system for evaluation of aerosol–cloud interactions

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