Overview of biological ice nucleating particles in the atmosphere

Abstract

Biological particles in the Earth’s atmosphere are a distinctive category of ice nucleating particles (INPs) due to their capability of facilitating ice crystal formation in clouds at relatively warm temperatures. Field observations and model simulations have shown that biological INPs affect cloud and precipitation formation and regulate regional or even global climate, although there are considerable uncertainties in modeling and large gaps between observed and model simulated contribution of biological particles to atmospheric INPs. This paper overviews the latest researches about biological INPs in the atmosphere. Firstly, we describe the primary ice nucleation mechanisms, and measurements and model simulations of atmospheric biological INPs. Secondly, we summarize the ice nucleating properties of biological INPs from diverse sources such as soils or dust, vegetation (e.g., leaves and pollen grains), sea spray, and fresh waters, and controlling factors of biological INPs in the atmosphere. Then we review the abundance and distribution of atmospheric biological INPs in diverse ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the open questions in further studies on atmospheric biological INPs, including the requirements for developing novel detection techniques and simulation models, as well as the comprehensive investigation of characteristics and influencing factors of atmospheric biological INPs.