Investigating clouds from land, sea and sky! ?? A project looking at how clouds affect climate change in Antarctica starts its second year of field research this month. Hang on, how do clouds work? ?? Clouds form when water vapour in the atmosphere condenses around tiny airborne particles – like dust or volcanic ash - called aerosol particles. The team will be measuring the characteristics of aerosol particles in Antarctica, and analysing potential sources of aerosol, like seawater and precipitation. The Southern Ocean Clouds project investigates mixed phase clouds – clouds containing both ice crystals and water droplets – that are often badly represented in climate models. How will this be done? ???? Long-term ground-based observations at Rothera Research Station ?? Collecting data on aerosol particles aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough ?? Gathering atmospheric data on the BAS Twin Otter aircraft And last but not least… scientists will collect samples of Antarctic soil, mosses and lichens to assess their potential role in cloud formation. Data collected during the Southern Ocean Clouds project will aid understanding of the Southern Ocean’s clouds, helping to reduce uncertainty in climate models and improve climate predictions. Read the full story here ?? https://lnkd.in/ehmMm_G7 Southern Ocean Clouds is a project of the NERC: Natural Environment Research Council CloudSense Programme. ?? 1. 2. View of RRS Sir David Attenborough from the BAS Twin Otter aircraft, by Floortje Van Den Heuvel ?? 3. BAS Twin Otter VP-FAZ preparing for cloud flights, by Floortje Van Den Heuvel
