From trees to rain: enhancement of cloud glaciation and precipitation by pollen

Abstract

The ability of pollen to enable the glaciation of supercooled liquid water has been demonstrated in laboratory studies; however, the potential large-scale effect of plants and pollen on clouds, precipitation and climate is pressing knowledge to better understand and project clouds in the current and future climate. Combining ground-based measurements of pollen concentrations and satellite observations of cloud properties within the United States, we show that enhanced pollen concentrations during springtime lead to an increase in cloud ice fraction of up to 0.1 in the temperature regime where pollen are considered to act as INP (−15 ∘C and −25 ∘C ). We further establish the link from the pollen-induced increase in cloud ice to a higher precipitation frequency. In light of anthropogenic climate change, the extended and strengthened pollen season and future alterations in biodiversity can introduce a localized climate forcing and a modification of the precipitation frequency and intensity.