Atmospheric aerosol particles modulate climate and the Earth’s energy balance by scattering and absorbing sunlight. They also seed clouds, acting as cloud condensation nuclei.

Extensive in situ and remote sensing measurements were collected to address data gaps and better understand the interactions of convective clouds and the surrounding environment.

Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are increasing in frequency as large wildfires become more prevalent in a warming climate. These clouds can inject smoke particles into the atmosphere, where they can remain suspended for several months.

PNNL chemist John Shilling builds custom chamber helping uncover how aerosol particles and clouds contribute to Earth’s changing climate.

Using numerical simulations to reproduce the laboratory experiments, this study reveals that liquid droplets are present near the bottom surface, which warms and moistens the air in the chamber.

Three PNNL researchers will receive five continuous years of funding for projects through highly competitive DOE Early Career Research Program awards.

Aerosol particles imbue climate models with uncertainty. New work by PNNL researchers reveals where in the world and under what conditions new particles are born.

Researchers show how satellite observations from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and CloudSat radar can be used to constrain the ACI radiative forcing that is linked to droplet collection in marine liquid clouds.

A set of papers combines surface science measurements on tiny particles with uncrewed aerial systems to better understand and model aerosols.

PNNL researchers have used field campaign data to better understand clouds, aerosols, and the interactions between humans and the atmosphere.

PNNL researchers are working to provide the technical assistance and expertise needed for communities to shape their clean energy future.

Published in Nature Communications, Increased Asian Aerosols Drive a Slowdown of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, identifies the role aerosols over Asia is having on the AMOC, a complex system of currents in the Atlantic Ocean.

Researchers devised a quantitative and predictive understanding of the cloud chemistry of biomass-burning organic gases helping increase the understanding of wildfires.

Models have identified a new source of anthropogenic emissions driving the observed weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.

Atmospheric rivers, filaments of intense moisture transport in the atmosphere, can now be automatically detected in satellite observations.

PNNL study explored multiple factors that could impact future snowpack—a critical source of water for communities, irrigation and energy generation.

Earth Scientist Laura Fierce mentors Department of Energy Science Graduate Student Research program awardees.

This study revealed that fresh organic vapors are soluble in particulate organics that are actively growing in size. However, if the particulate matter ages, fresh organic vapors can no longer mix with the organic matter.

Partitioning measured ice nucleating particle concentrations into individual particle types leads to a better understanding of the sources and model representations of these particles.

PNNL is supporting the floating offshore wind industry to enable gigawatt-scale development of floating offshore wind in the United States while minimizing environmental impacts and supporting local workforces.