Clouds form when water vapor turns into liquid droplets or ice crystals , usually around tiny particles like dust. Microplastics , small ...
Clouds form when water vapor turns into liquid droplets or ice crystals, usually around tiny particles like dust.
Microplastics, small plastic particles less than 5 mm wide, can act as similar particles, promoting cloud formation.
Microplastics cause ice crystals to form at temperatures 5-10°C warmer than without microplastics.
This suggests that microplastics could enable cloud formation in conditions where it wouldn’t typically happen.
Microplastics provide a surface for ice crystals to form, potentially increasing rain or snowfall.
Microplastics exposed to UV light, ozone, and acids showed reduced ability to nucleate ice, but they still contributed to ice formation.
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