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Atmospheric science

Ocean algae and atmospheric ice

Mineral dust and biological particles of terrestrial origin initiate ice formation in the atmosphere. Laboratory experiments suggest that ocean diatoms are another potential source of ice nuclei in clouds.

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Figure 1: A collection of diatoms (a) and the diatom species Thalassiosira pseudonana (b).

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Möhler, O., Hoose, C. Ocean algae and atmospheric ice. Nature Geosci 4, 76–77 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1075

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