Meteorology Weatherwatch Weatherwatch: tiny particles in the air can trigger massive storms US scientists taking measurements above the Amazon rainforest have recorded the effects of smoke and aerosols on the weather Clouds gather over the rainforest near Manaus. In a study conducted over the Amazon rainforest, scientists have shown that tiny particles – smaller than one-thousandth of the width of a human hair – cause storms to intensify, and potentially have knock-on effects for weather around the world. Jiwen Fan, from the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory studied storm formation near the Brazilian city of Manaus. Previously, these tiny particles were thought to be too small to aid droplet formation. In pristine areas (such as the Amazon and over oceans) tiny particles could be having a significant effect.

Source: The Guardian January 29, 2018 21:22 UTC