Biological Particles May be Crucial for Inducing Heavy Rain

(EPFL, May 08, 2025)

Biological particles such as pollen and bacteria critically shape our weather, as shown by an EPFL team led by Prof. Athanasios Nenes and Dr. Kunfeng Gao. These particles significantly aid cloud ice formation, crucial for rain and snow. This insight challenges current climate models, highlighting the need to include biological particles to improve weather and climate forecasts, particularly for extreme events like floods and snowstorms. The team collected air from Mount Helmos, Greece, examining the link between biological particles and ice formation using cloud radars, aerosol lidars, and UAVs. This method pinpointed the most effective particles for ice nucleation and their daily patterns, marking a major advance in meteorological and climate prediction accuracy. EPFL's innovative use of fieldwork and technology sets a new direction for atmospheric science research.