Nighttime atmospheric nucleation driven by marine microorganisms

<p>Understanding ocean-cloud interactions and their effect on climate requires that atmospheric new particle formation is characterized. Yet, the process of particle formation from marine biogenic gaz-phase emissions has not been evidenced in the open ocean lower atmosphere, partly due to the naturally low concentrations of these particles in remote oceanic places. Here we show, using new ship-borne air-sea interface enclosures, that new particles are formed in relation to marine micro-biology present in the seawater. The chemical analysis of newly formed clusters with API-ToF-MS shows unexpected results, implicating nucleating coumpounds and pathways that are usually not taken into account in nucleation processes.</p>