ESSIC / AOSC Professor Zhanqing Li is a co-author of a recently released paper in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences which details new methods for determining cloud-base updraft speeds and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations.
Both of these components are key factors in quantifying the microphysical, precipitation, and radiative effects of aerosols at a global scale, something researchers had yet to accomplish due to ineffective and unreliable methodology. However, with the advent of satellite retrievals from the Suomi NPP polar-orbiting operational weather satellite, researchers were able to map out regional and global projections of CCN concentrations.
These findings are likely to greatly reduce the uncertainty associated with quantifying human-related aerosol climate forcing. To read the full study, visit the following link
