Research group Clouds, airborne particles and gases
A continued change in the atmospheric content of greenhouse gases and particles is estimated to result in future warming well above 1.5°C, compared with pre-industrial levels. It is uncertain how much heating is masked by the cooling effect of the particles, especially the effect of the particles on the distribution and properties of the clouds.
More research is needed on the sources of the particles, how they are formed and transported in the atmosphere and how particles and gases interact with clouds, precipitation and solar radiation.
We know for certain that climate is changing. It is also beyond doubt that human influence has warmed up the atmosphere. At the same time as we release carbon dioxide we also release large amounts of small airborne particles (so called aerosols) from the same chimneys. But as opposed to carbon dioxide, they have a cooling effect on Earth’s climate. Clouds cannot form without aerosols.
In the Troposphere clouds consist of small water droplets, and of ice crystals at higher altitudes were the temperature is low enough. In these clouds, small aerosol nuclei of ca. 1/1000 mm in diameter act as condensation nuclei that help the water vapour of the air to condensate and form clouds.
The chemical composition of the condensation nuclei, and how many they are, affects the formation of the clouds and how long they persist. But how large is the effect of the aerosols and clouds on climate? Has the increasing greenhouse effect been masked by the particle release? How do the clouds change when climate changes? Can the clouds instead enhance the global warming? Would aerosols be able to influence whether the sea ice in the Arctic freezes or melts? How can we describe clouds and aerosols in global climate models?
We look for the answers to these questions by going on research expeditions to the North Pole as well as making use of other measurements, satellite observations, machine learning and computer modeling. We also study the world’s highest clouds (so-called noctilucent clouds) and aerosols in the Mesosphere. We collect data from the satellites Odin and MATS and from sond rockets. At the space base Esrange, we learn more about the clouds in the Stratosphere by means of powerful laser systems.
Group members
Group managers
Annica Ekman
Professor of Meteorology
Caroline Leck
Professor of Chemical meteorology
Casey Wall
Assistant professor
Jörg Gumbel
Professor of Atmospheric physics
Frida Bender
Associate professor
Linda Megner
Researcher, docent
Members
Maura Dewey
PhD student
