Research project Unravelling the Role of marine biopolymers in cloud formation in the High Arctic

The increase in summer sea-ice melt will likely amplify Arctic warming. But could the same conditions also spur the activity of marine microbiota, increase cloudiness, and counteract the melting?

The rise in summer sea-ice melt is expected to intensify Arctic warming. However, might these same conditions also enhance the activity of marine microbiota, increase cloud cover, and mitigate the melting?

We will use samples collected during the 2018 North Pole cruise (MOCCHA: Microbiology-Ocean-Cloud-Connection-in the High Arctic) to answer these cross-disciplinary questions through laboratory determinations and simulations.
We will conduct genomic analyses of the Arctic habitat to link marine polymer gels (polysaccharides, proteins, and amino acids) in aerosols and clouds to oceanic biota.
We will also develop cutting-edge mass spectrometry to characterize the cloud-forming biomolecules.
We will explore studies of biopolymer aqueous solutions using liquid-jet photoelectron spectroscopy and molecular simulations to examine the cloud-forming properties of polymer gels.

A fundamental understanding of the molecular level of the controls of high Arctic clouds will be gained if successful.