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Deciphering the significant role of biological ice nucleators in precipitation at the organic molecular level
  • +18
  • Mutong Niu,
  • Wei Hu,
  • Shu Huang,
  • Jie Chen,
  • Shujun Zhong,
  • Ziye Huang,
  • Peimin Duan,
  • Xiangyu Pei,
  • Jing Duan,
  • Kai Bi,
  • Shuang Chen,
  • Rui Jin,
  • Ming Sheng,
  • Ning Yang,
  • Libin Wu,
  • Junjun Deng,
  • Jialei Zhu,
  • Fangxia Shen,
  • Zhijun Wu,
  • Daizhou Zhang,
  • Pingqing Fu
Mutong Niu
Tianjin University
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Wei Hu
Tianjin University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Shu Huang
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University
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Jie Chen
ETH Zürich
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Shujun Zhong
Tianjin University
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Ziye Huang
Tianjin University
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Peimin Duan
Tianjin University
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Xiangyu Pei
Zhejiang University
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Jing Duan
CMA Cloud-Precipitation Physics and Weather Modification Key Laboratory, CMA Weather Modification Centre
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Kai Bi
Beijing Weather Modification Center
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Shuang Chen
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University
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Rui Jin
School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University
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Ming Sheng
Tianjin University
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Ning Yang
Tianjin University
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Libin Wu
Tianjin University
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Junjun Deng
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University
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Jialei Zhu
Tianjin Univeristy
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Fangxia Shen
Beihang University
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Zhijun Wu
Peking University
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Daizhou Zhang
Prefectural University of Kumamoto
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Pingqing Fu
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University
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Abstract

Biological particles, as a fraction of organic particles, potentially play a crucial role in ice nucleation processes. However, the contributions and relationships of biological components and organic matter (OM) to atmospheric ice nucleation are still largely unexplored. Here, droplet freezing assays, high-throughput sequencing technology and ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry were performed to detect the INPs, microorganisms and OM molecules in precipitation collected at the summit of Mt. Lu, China, respectively. Results revealed a predominant biological composition (71.7% and 93.2%) of total and nanoscale INPs (< 0.22 μm) at temperatures above −15°C. Specifically, bacterial INPs accounted for 36.1% of the biological INPs at temperatures above −15°C. A notable correlation between sulfur-containing compounds, mainly proteinaceous and lignin-like substances, and INPs was uncovered, with a co-occurrence network linking these compounds to Gram-positive bacteria and Agaricomycetes. This study underscored the possible significance of sulfur-containing compounds in biological INP efficiency, which could further help shed light on the ice nucleation mechanisms and potential sources of biological INPs.
09 Apr 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
12 Apr 2024Published in ESS Open Archive