IIT-Madras study decodes how human activity affects aerosols and climate

A research by the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Madras has shown the profound influence of human activities on cloudforming aerosolsThe team along with collaborations from Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz Germany studied the procedure called lsquoCloud Condensation Nucleirsquo CCN along Indiarsquos coastal regionsResearch surrounding the interaction of aerosols tiny suspended particles in air essential for cloud formation and precipitation is a critical area that continues to generate the largest uncertainties in climate change predictionsWith climate models heavily reliant on computer simulations the established measurements and findings provide empirical data that can help refine these models thereby reducing uncertaintiesldquoAerosolcloud interactions are intrinsically complicated and these findings underscore that human activities can dramatically influence underlying processes This is critical information for negotiating future atmospheric dynamicsrdquo said Dr M Ravichandran Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences and a renowned climate scientist who was not part of this studyThe team at IIT Madras observed a startling 80250 per cent increase in CCN concentrations following the Covid19 lockdownThis surge as clearly shown by the study resulted from more frequent new particle formation NPF a process where aerosol particles are formed from gases through complex chemical processes in the atmosphere postlockdown as humancaused emissions slowly reboundedThis surge in freshly formed particles was the direct driver of the increase in CCN concentrationThese findings published in the American Chemical Societys ESampT Air Journal highlight how human behaviour directly affects the planetrsquos climate systems The shift from predominantly cleaner marine air to polluted continental sources postlockdown indicates the complex relationship between human activity and aerosol dynamic behaviourThe research also found that anthropogenic organic matter was the dominant factor in the growth of these new particles challenging the common belief that organic particles inhibit cloud formationldquoOur research reveals that anthropogenic emissions strongly influence aerosol behaviour particularly in how they form clouds These findings challenge existing models and propose new avenues for understanding how human activities shape climate patternsrdquo said lead researcher and atmospheric scientist Prof Sachin S Gunthe also a faculty member in the Environmental Engineering Division Department of Civil Engineering IIT MadrasThe researchers are optimistic that these insights will help climate scientists reassess their models and approach to studying aerosol effects on climate changeThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever