It all starts with microbes: bacteria in our gut, our skin, and even the clouds we see sitting in the sky. A strange think to think about when we tend to just imagine clouds as water vapor, dust, and other particles. Living bacteria within clouds are airborne species, working to turn water into ice. Frozen granules form around bits of dust, debris, and even these tiny organisms, falling as rain or snow. So, they play a part in rainfall, but how much?
The University of Florida's Brent Christner, a specialist in atmospheric bacteria, states that "If a cloud was stuffed with these microbes, it would create freezing and the processes that lead to precipitation... The unknown factor is, are there enough of them up there to matter?". To figure this out Christner and other researchers are sending weather balloons on sampling missions to help find an answer.
Do these airborne creatures get anything out of the deal? Do they use clouds to travel to new areas? Or are they just adrenaline junkies who enjoy falling from the sky?
Original Article by Veronique Greenwood found here: https://www.popsci.com/bacteria-rainfall-weather
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