Air Pollution May Cause More Severe Precipitation

Research published in the journal Nature Geoscience by a team of atmospheric scientists at the University of Maryland shows that fine particulate matter—most of which comes from combustion-related air pollution—has greater effects on cloud formation and precipitation patterns than previously understood.

The research shows that high levels of suspended particles known as aerosols increase the variability of precipitation, reducing the chance of mild precipitation and increasing the chance of severe precipitation. The researchers reported that this refined understanding of the relationship among clouds, aerosols, and precipitation is absent from current climate models.

The mechanisms through which aerosols affect climate are still not fully understood, but this research should set the stage for further discoveries—while giving us another reason to reduce aerosol pollution.