In reply to Mark Iverson-ZeroPoint's message of Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:13:44 -0700: Hi, [snip] >"CLOUD has already made several important discoveries. First, the experiment >has shown that the most likely nucleating vapours, sulphuric acid and >ammonia, cannot account for the nucleation that is observed in the lower >atmosphere. The nucleation measured in the chamber occurs at only >1/10-1/1000 of the rates observed in the lower atmosphere. It is clear from >these first results from CLOUD that the treatment of aerosol formation in >climate models will need to be revised substantially because all models >assume that nucleation in the lower atmosphere is caused by these vapours >and water alone. It is now essential to identify the additional nucleating >vapours and whether their sources are mainly natural or from human >activities. If the vapours have strong anthropogenic sources then there >potentially exists a new climate-forcing agent from human activities. >Alternatively, if the source is natural, then there is the potential for a >new climate feedback that may affect the understanding of how the climate >responds to radiative forcings."
I think NaCl and DMS are important over the ocean, and I suspect that on land trees produce a chemical. It would make evolutionary sense for trees to produce chemicals that make it rain. :) Regards, Robin van Spaandonk http://rvanspaa.freehostia.com/project.html
