particulate matter and precipitation

[petrushka.googol]

Do solid particles of pollutants actually act as nuclei for the formation of clouds ?

 

Is this a caveat of pollution being detrimental to humans ?

 

Please advise.

[swansont]

Yes. I recall a colloquium from some years back where the speaker showed how satellites could track ships because of the clouds formation from the particulates in the smoke/exhaust.

 

Hard to say whether cloud formation is detrimental without including the context. There are undoubtedly some positive and some negative aspects of it.

[Harold Squared]

Contrails of jet aircraft are a good example, I suppose. Also silver iodide, potassium iodide, or dry ice particles are in common use for deliberate "cloud seeding" attempts at rain production, commonly using rockets or aircraft. Very popular in China, I understand.

[StringJunky]

Yes, pollutants can act as cloud condensation nuclei. The irony of air pollution is that it increases the albedo of the planet and helps to keep it cooler by reflecting solar radiation back out to space..

[Harold Squared]

I recall the Global Cooling hypothesis, your succint summary is admirable. This has been demonstrated by volcanic eruptions and formed the foundation of the "nuclear winter" speculations of yesteryear, if I am not mistaken.

[StringJunky]

I recall the Global Cooling hypothesis, your succint summary is admirable. This has been demonstrated by volcanic eruptions and formed the foundation of the "nuclear winter" speculations of yesteryear, if I am not mistaken.

Yes, apparently it is mitigating somewhat the full brunt of the warming trend.

Edited June 23, 2015 by StringJunky