Articles | Volume 26, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9017-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9017-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Anthropogenic modulation of dust-dominated ice nucleation in an urban dryland city of China during winter and spring
Chengqing Chen
College of Atmospheric Sciences and Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
College of Atmospheric Sciences and Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Jiming Li
College of Atmospheric Sciences and Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Lu Feng
College of Atmospheric Sciences and Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Tianrong Chai
College of Atmospheric Sciences and Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Zhao Ji
College of Atmospheric Sciences and Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Jian Wang
Nanjing Handa Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., Nanjing, 211102, China
Yuan Wang
College of Atmospheric Sciences and Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Related authors
No articles found.
Ruixue Li, Jiming Li, Bida Jian, Lijie Zhang, and Jiayi Li
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2875, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2875, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
Using satellite radiation observations and a surface energy framework, we show that recent cloud changes weakly affect global mean warming but strongly modulate regional warming, enhancing warming in low- and mid-latitudes while mitigating it in polar regions. This effect is driven by a shift from low- and mid-level clouds to high-level thin clouds, reducing planetary albedo and weakening longwave emission, with distinct controls in the two hemispheres.
Jiayi Li, Yang Wang, Jiming Li, Weiyuan Zhang, Lijie Zhang, and Yuan Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 17455–17472, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-17455-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-17455-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
A key challenge in climate projections is the uncertainty in cloud water response to aerosols, especially from unclear diurnal microphysical-dynamical mechanisms. Geostationary satellite shows that neglecting the diurnal variations leads to an underestimation (up to 89 %) of the cooling effect induced by changes in cloud albedo due to aerosol perturbations. The results provide new insights in aerosol-cloud interactions, verifying this is a significant yet often overlooked source of uncertainty.
Lulu Yuan, Wenchao Han, Jiachen Meng, Yang Wang, Haojie Yu, and Wenze Li
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10421–10442, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10421-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10421-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study utilizes multi-source data to reveal the impact of various urban functional zones in China on the spatial distribution of pollutants. The findings indicate that the residential and commercial zones see notable air quality gains, but the improvement of air quality in the transportation zone is the least considerable. Moreover, the industrial zone has the most seasonal air quality variation. Therefore, air pollution prevention policies should consider differences in functional zones.
Ruixue Li, Bida Jian, Jiming Li, Deyu Wen, Lijie Zhang, Yang Wang, and Yuan Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9777–9803, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9777-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9777-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Hemispheric or interannual averages of reflected solar radiation (RSR) can mask signals from seasonally active or region-specific mechanisms. We examine RSR characteristics from latitude and month perspectives, revealing decreased trends observed by CERES in both hemispheres driven by clear-sky atmospheric and cloud components at 30–50° N and cloud components at 0–50° S. AVHRR achieves symmetry criteria within uncertainty and is suitable for the long-term analysis of hemispheric RSR symmetry.
Yuxin Zhao, Jiming Li, Deyu Wen, Yarong Li, Yuan Wang, and Jianping Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9435–9457, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9435-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9435-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study identifies deep convection systems (DCSs), including deep convection cores and anvils, over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and tropical Indian Ocean (TO). The DCSs over the TP are less frequent, showing narrower and thinner cores and anvils compared to those over the TO. TP DCSs show a stronger longwave cloud radiative effect at the surface and in the low-level atmosphere. Distinct aerosol–cloud–precipitation interaction is found in TP DCSs, probably due to the cold cloud bases.
Honglin Pan, Jianping Huang, Jiming Li, Zhongwei Huang, Minzhong Wang, Ali Mamtimin, Wen Huo, Fan Yang, Tian Zhou, and Kanike Raghavendra Kumar
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1185–1207, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1185-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1185-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We applied several correction procedures and rigorously checked for data quality constraints during the long observation period spanning almost 14 years (2007–2020). Nevertheless, some uncertainties remain, mainly due to technical constraints and limited documentation of the measurements. Even though not completely accurate, this strategy is expected to at least reduce the inaccuracy of the computed characteristic value of aerosol optical parameters.
Naifu Shao, Chunsong Lu, Xingcan Jia, Yuan Wang, Yubin Li, Yan Yin, Bin Zhu, Tianliang Zhao, Duanyang Liu, Shengjie Niu, Shuxian Fan, Shuqi Yan, and Jingjing Lv
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 9873–9890, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9873-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9873-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Fog is an important meteorological phenomenon that affects visibility. Aerosols and the planetary boundary layer (PBL) play critical roles in the fog life cycle. In this study, aerosol-induced changes in fog properties become more remarkable in the second fog (Fog2) than in the first fog (Fog1). The reason is that aerosol–cloud interaction (ACI) delays Fog1 dissipation, leading to the PBL meteorological conditions being more conducive to Fog2 formation and to stronger ACI in Fog2.
Yuxin Zhao, Jiming Li, Lijie Zhang, Cong Deng, Yarong Li, Bida Jian, and Jianping Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 743–769, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-743-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-743-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Diurnal variations of clouds play an important role in the radiative budget and precipitation. Based on satellite observations, reanalysis, and CMIP6 outputs, the diurnal variations in total cloud cover and cloud vertical distribution over the Tibetan Plateau are explored. The diurnal cycle of cirrus is a key focus and found to have different characteristics from those found in the tropics. The relationship between the diurnal cycle of cirrus and meteorological factors is also discussed.
Yuan Wang, Silvia Henning, Laurent Poulain, Chunsong Lu, Frank Stratmann, Yuying Wang, Shengjie Niu, Mira L. Pöhlker, Hartmut Herrmann, and Alfred Wiedensohler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 15943–15962, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15943-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15943-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Aerosol particle activation affects cloud, precipitation, radiation, and thus the global climate. Its long-term measurements are important but still scarce. In this study, more than 4 years of measurements at a central European station were analyzed. The overall characteristics and seasonal changes of aerosol particle activation are summarized. The power-law fit between particle hygroscopicity factor and diameter was recommended for predicting cloud
condensation nuclei number concentration.
Bida Jian, Jiming Li, Guoyin Wang, Yuxin Zhao, Yarong Li, Jing Wang, Min Zhang, and Jianping Huang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 9809–9828, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-9809-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-9809-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluate the performance of the AMIP6 model in simulating cloud albedo over marine subtropical regions and the impacts of different aerosol types and meteorological factors on the cloud albedo based on multiple satellite datasets and reanalysis data. The results show that AMIP6 demonstrates moderate improvement over AMIP5 in simulating the monthly variation in cloud albedo, and changes in different aerosol types and meteorological factors can explain ~65 % of the changes in the cloud albedo.
Cited articles
Ardon-Dryer, K.: Minute-scale convective dust events are overlooked in urban air quality monitoring, Commun. Earth Environ., 6, 815, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02836-7, 2025.
Baron, P. A. and Willeke, K. (Eds.): Aerosol Measurement: Principles, Techniques, and Applications, 3rd edn., Wiley, ISBN 9780470387412, 2011.
Barry, K. R., Hill, T. C. J., Levin, E. J. T., Twohy, C. H., Moore, K. A., Weller, Z. D., Toohey, D. W., Reeves, M., Campos, T., Geiss, R., Schill, G. P., Fischer, E. V., Kreidenweis, S. M., and DeMott, P. J.: Observations of ice nucleating particles in the free troposphere from western US wildfires, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 126, e2020JD033752, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD033752, 2021.
Beall, C. M., Hill, T. C. J., DeMott, P. J., Köneman, T., Pikridas, M., Drewnick, F., Harder, H., Pöhlker, C., Lelieveld, J., Weber, B., Iakovides, M., Prokeš, R., Sciare, J., Andreae, M. O., Stokes, M. D., and Prather, K. A.: Ice-nucleating particles near two major dust source regions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12607–12627, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12607-2022, 2022.
Bertozzi, B., Wagner, R., Song, J., Höhler, K., Pfeifer, J., Saathoff, H., Leisner, T., and Möhler, O.: Ice nucleation ability of ammonium sulfate aerosol particles internally mixed with secondary organics, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 10779–10798, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10779-2021, 2021.
Bi, K., McMeeking, G. R., Ding, D. P., Levin, E. J. T., DeMott, P. J., Zhao, D. L., Wang, F., Liu, Q., Tian, P., Ma, X. C., Chen, Y. B., Huang, M. Y., Zhang, H. L., Gordon, T. D., and Chen, P.: Measurements of ice nucleating particles in Beijing, China, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 124, 8065–8075, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD030609, 2019.
Burrows, S. M., McCluskey, C. S., Cornwell, G., Steinke, I., Zhang, K., Zhao, B., Zawadowicz, M., Raman, A., Kulkarni, G., China, S., Zelenyuk, A., and DeMott, P. J.: Ice-nucleating particles that impact clouds and climate: observational and modeling research needs, Rev. Geophys., 60, e2021RG000745, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021RG000745, 2022.
Chatziparaschos, M., Daskalakis, N., Myriokefalitakis, S., Kalivitis, N., Nenes, A., Gonçalves Ageitos, M., Costa-Surós, M., Pérez García-Pando, C., Zanoli, M., Vrekoussis, M., and Kanakidou, M.: Role of K-feldspar and quartz in global ice nucleation by mineral dust in mixed-phase clouds, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 1785–1801, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1785-2023, 2023.
Chen, C.: Dust-Induced Ice-Nucleating Particle Bursts Override Persistent Pollution in a Semiarid City of China, Zenodo [data set], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17775917, 2025.
Chen, J., Wu, Z., Augustin-Bauditz, S., Grawe, S., Hartmann, M., Pei, X., Liu, Z., Ji, D., and Wex, H.: Ice-nucleating particle concentrations unaffected by urban air pollution in Beijing, China, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 3523–3539, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-3523-2018, 2018.
Chen, J., Wu, Z., Chen, J., Reicher, N., Fang, X., Rudich, Y., and Hu, M.: Size-resolved atmospheric ice-nucleating particles during East Asian dust events, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 3491–3506, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-3491-2021, 2021.
Chen, J., Wu, Z., Meng, X., Zhang, C., Chen, J., Qiu, Y., Chen, L., Fang, X., Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., Chen, S., Gao, J., Li, W., and Hu, M.: Observational evidence for the non-suppression effect of atmospheric chemical modification on the ice nucleation activity of East Asian dust, Sci. Total Environ., 861, 160708, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160708, 2023.
Chen, J., Xu, J., Wu, Z., Meng, X., Yu, Y., Ginoux, P., DeMott, P. J., Xu, R., Zhai, L., Yan, Y., Zhao, C., Li, S.-M., Zhu, T., and Hu, M.: Decreased dust particles amplify the cloud cooling effect by regulating cloud ice formation over the Tibetan Plateau, Sci. Adv., 10, eado0885, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ado0885, 2024a.
Chen, J., Wu, Z., Gong, X., Qiu, Y., Chen, S., Zeng, L., and Hu, M.: Anthropogenic dust as a significant source of ice-nucleating particles in the urban environment, Earths Future, 12, e2023EF003738, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EF003738, 2024b.
Chen, J., Jakob, F. M. O., Voliotis, A., Wu, H., Syafira, S. A., Oghama, O., Shardt, N., Fauré, N., Kong, X., McFiggans, G., and Kanji, Z. A.: Ice nucleation abilities and chemical characteristics of laboratory-generated and aged biomass burning aerosols, Environ. Sci. Technol., 59, 2575–2586, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c04941, 2025.
Chen, S., Zhang, X., Lin, J., Huang, J., Zhao, D., Yuan, T., Huang, K., Luo, Y., Jia, Z., Zang, Z., Qiu, Y., and Xie, L.: Fugitive road dust PM2.5 emissions and their potential health impacts, Environ. Sci. Technol., 53, 8455–8465, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b00666, 2019.
Cheng, B., Ma, Y., Li, H., Feng, F., Zhang, Y., and Qin, P.: Water-soluble ions and source apportionment of PM2.5 depending on synoptic weather patterns in an urban environment in spring dust season, Sci. Rep., 12, 21953, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26615-y, 2022.
Chernoff, D. I. and Bertram, A. K.: Effects of sulfate coatings on the ice nucleation properties of a biological ice nucleus and several types of minerals, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 115, D20207, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD014254, 2010.
Connolly, P. J., Möhler, O., Field, P. R., Saathoff, H., Burgess, R., Choularton, T., and Gallagher, M.: Studies of heterogeneous freezing by three different desert dust samples, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 2805–2824, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-2805-2009, 2009.
Corbin, J., Rehbein, P., Evans, G., and Abbatt, J.: Combustion particles as ice nuclei in an urban environment: Evidence from single-particle mass spectrometry, Atmos. Environ., 51, 286–292, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.01.007, 2012.
Creamean, J. M., Barry, K., Hill, T. C. J., Hume, C., DeMott, P. J., Shupe, M. D., Dahlke, S., Willmes, S., Schmale, J., Beck, I., Hoppe, C. J. M., Fong, A., Chamberlain, E., Bowman, J., Scharien, R., and Persson, O.: Annual cycle observations of aerosols capable of ice formation in central Arctic clouds, Nat. Commun., 13, 3537, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31182-x, 2022.
Cziczo, D. J., Froyd, K. D., Gallavardin, S. J., Möhler, O., Benz, S., Saathoff, H., and Murphy, D. M.: Deactivation of ice nuclei due to atmospherically relevant surface coatings, Environ. Res. Lett., 4, 044013, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/4/4/044013, 2009.
DeMott, P. J., Prenni, A. J., Liu, X., Kreidenweis, S. M., Petters, M. D., Twohy, C. H., Richardson, M. S., Eidhammer, T., and Rogers, D. C.: Predicting global atmospheric ice nuclei distributions and their impacts on climate, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 107, 11217–11222, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0910818107, 2010.
DeMott, P. J., Prenni, A. J., McMeeking, G. R., Sullivan, R. C., Petters, M. D., Tobo, Y., Niemand, M., Möhler, O., Snider, J. R., Wang, Z., and Kreidenweis, S. M.: Integrating laboratory and field data to quantify the immersion freezing ice nucleation activity of mineral dust particles, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 393–409, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-393-2015, 2015.
DeMott, P. J., Hill, T. C. J., Petters, M. D., Bertram, A. K., Tobo, Y., Mason, R. H., Suski, K. J., McCluskey, C. S., Levin, E. J. T., Schill, G. P., Boose, Y., Rauker, A. M., Miller, A. J., Zaragoza, J., Rocci, K., Rothfuss, N. E., Taylor, H. P., Hader, J. D., Chou, C., Huffman, J. A., Pöschl, U., Prenni, A. J., and Kreidenweis, S. M.: Comparative measurements of ambient atmospheric concentrations of ice nucleating particles using multiple immersion freezing methods and a continuous flow diffusion chamber, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 11227–11245, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-11227-2017, 2017.
DeMott, P. J., Mirrielees, J. A., Petters, S. S., Cziczo, D. J., Petters, M. D., Bingemer, H. G., Hill, T. C. J., Froyd, K., Garimella, S., Hallar, A. G., Levin, E. J. T., McCubbin, I. B., Perring, A. E., Rapp, C. N., Schiebel, T., Schrod, J., Suski, K. J., Weber, D., Wolf, M. J., Zawadowicz, M., Zenker, J., Möhler, O., and Brooks, S. D.: Field intercomparison of ice nucleation measurements: the Fifth International Workshop on Ice Nucleation Phase 3 (FIN-03), Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 639–672, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-639-2025, 2025.
Du, T., Wang, M., Guan, X., Zhang, M., Zeng, H., Chang, Y., Zhang, L., Tian, P., Shi, J., and Tang, C.: Characteristics and formation mechanisms of winter particulate pollution in Lanzhou, Northwest China, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 125, e2020JD033369, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD033369, 2020.
Eastwood, M. L., Cremel, S., Wheeler, M., Murray, B. J., Girard, E., and Bertram, A. K.: Effects of sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate coatings on the ice nucleation properties of kaolinite particles, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L02503, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL035997, 2009.
Field, P. R. and Heymsfield, A. J.: Importance of snow to global precipitation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 9512–9520, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065497, 2015
French, J. R., Friedrich, K., Tessendorf, S. A., Rauber, R. M., Geerts, B., Rasmussen, R. M., Xue, L., Kunkel, M. L., and Blestrud, D. R.: Precipitation formation from orographic cloud seeding, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 115, 1168–1173, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1716995115, 2018.
Ge, Z. and Zhou, C.: The observations of atmospheric ice nuclei in Lanzhou, Plateau Meteorol., 5, 167–171, http://www.gyqx.ac.cn/CN/Y1986/V5/I2/167 (last access: 10 May 2025), 1986.
Gjelsvik, A. B., David, R. O., Carlsen, T., Hellmuth, F., Hofer, S., McGraw, Z., Sodemann, H., and Storelvmo, T.: Using a region-specific ice-nucleating particle parameterization improves the representation of Arctic clouds in a global climate model, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1617–1637, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1617-2025, 2025.
Hawker, R. E., Miltenberger, A. K., Wilkinson, J. M., Hill, A. A., Shipway, B. J., Cui, Z., Cotton, R. J., Carslaw, K. S., Field, P. R., and Murray, B. J.: The temperature dependence of ice-nucleating particle concentrations affects the radiative properties of tropical convective cloud systems, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 5439–5461, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-5439-2021, 2021.
Herbert, R. J., Sanchez-Marroquin, A., Grosvenor, D. P., Pringle, K. J., Arnold, S. R., Murray, B. J., and Carslaw, K. S.: Gaps in our understanding of ice-nucleating particle sources exposed by global simulation of the UK Earth System Model, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 291–325, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-291-2025, 2025.
Hinds, W. C.: Aerosol Technology: Properties, Behavior, and Measurement of Airborne Particles, 2nd edn., Wiley-Interscience, ISBN 9781119494041, 1999.
Hiranuma, N., Augustin-Bauditz, S., Bingemer, H., Budke, C., Curtius, J., Danielczok, A., Diehl, K., Dreischmeier, K., Ebert, M., Frank, F., Hoffmann, N., Kandler, K., Kiselev, A., Koop, T., Leisner, T., Möhler, O., Nillius, B., Peckhaus, A., Rose, D., Weinbruch, S., Wex, H., Boose, Y., DeMott, P. J., Hader, J. D., Hill, T. C. J., Kanji, Z. A., Kulkarni, G., Levin, E. J. T., McCluskey, C. S., Murakami, M., Murray, B. J., Niedermeier, D., Petters, M. D., O'Sullivan, D., Saito, A., Schill, G. P., Tajiri, T., Tolbert, M. A., Welti, A., Whale, T. F., Wright, T. P., and Yamashita, K.: A comprehensive laboratory study on the immersion freezing behavior of illite NX particles: a comparison of 17 ice nucleation measurement techniques, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 2489–2518, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-2489-2015, 2015.
Hofer, J., Seifert, P., Liley, J. B., Radenz, M., Uchino, O., Morino, I., Sakai, T., Nagai, T., and Ansmann, A.: Aerosol-related effects on the occurrence of heterogeneous ice formation over Lauder, New Zealand ∕ Aotearoa, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1265–1280, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1265-2024, 2024.
Hoose, C. and Möhler, O.: Heterogeneous ice nucleation on atmospheric aerosols: a review of results from laboratory experiments, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 9817–9854, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-9817-2012, 2012.
Hu, W., Hu, M., Hu, W.-W., Zheng, J., Chen, C., Wu, Y., and Guo, S.: Seasonal variations in high time-resolved chemical compositions, sources, and evolution of atmospheric submicron aerosols in the megacity Beijing, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 9979–10000, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9979-2017, 2017.
Huang, Z., Hu, W., Chen, J., Zhu, J., Wu, Z., Zhang, Y., and Fu, P.: Atmospheric aging effects on aerosol ice nucleation, Earth-Sci. Rev., 269, 105176, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105176, 2025.
Kanji, Z. A., DeMott, P. J., Möhler, O., and Abbatt, J. P. D.: Results from the University of Toronto continuous flow diffusion chamber at ICIS 2007: instrument intercomparison and ice onsets for different aerosol types, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 31–41, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-31-2011, 2011.
Kanji, Z. A., Ladino, L. A., Wex, H., Boose, Y., Burkert-Kohn, M., Cziczo, D. J., and Krämer, M.: Overview of ice nucleating particles, Meteorol. Monogr., 58, 1.1–1.33, https://doi.org/10.1175/AMSMONOGRAPHS-D-16-0006.1, 2017.
Kanji, Z. A., Sullivan, R. C., Niemand, M., DeMott, P. J., Prenni, A. J., Chou, C., Saathoff, H., and Möhler, O.: Heterogeneous ice nucleation properties of natural desert dust particles coated with a surrogate of secondary organic aerosol, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 5091–5110, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-5091-2019, 2019.
Kanji, Z. A., Welti, A., Corbin, J. C., and Mensah, A. A.: Black carbon particles do not matter for immersion mode ice nucleation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2019GL086764, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086764, 2020.
Kärcher, B.: A parameterization of cirrus cloud formation: Revisiting competing ice nucleation, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 127, e2022JD036907, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD036907, 2022.
Kawai, K., Matsui, H., and Tobo, Y.: High potential of Asian dust to act as ice nucleating particles in mixed-phase clouds simulated with a global aerosol-climate model, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 126, e2020JD034263, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD034263, 2021.
Kiselev, A., Bachmann, F., Pedevilla, P., Cox, S. J., Michaelides, A., Gerthsen, D., and Leisner, T.: Active sites in heterogeneous ice nucleation – the example of K-rich feldspars, Science, 355, 367–371, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aai8034, 2017.
Lacher, L., Adams, M. P., Barry, K., Bertozzi, B., Bingemer, H., Boffo, C., Bras, Y., Büttner, N., Castarede, D., Cziczo, D. J., DeMott, P. J., Fösig, R., Goodell, M., Höhler, K., Hill, T. C. J., Jentzsch, C., Ladino, L. A., Levin, E. J. T., Mertes, S., Möhler, O., Moore, K. A., Murray, B. J., Nadolny, J., Pfeuffer, T., Picard, D., Ramírez-Romero, C., Ribeiro, M., Richter, S., Schrod, J., Sellegri, K., Stratmann, F., Swanson, B. E., Thomson, E. S., Wex, H., Wolf, M. J., and Freney, E.: The Puy de Dôme ICe Nucleation Intercomparison Campaign (PICNIC): comparison between online and offline methods in ambient air, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2651–2678, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2651-2024, 2024.
Lei, H. and Wang, J. X. L.: Observed characteristics of dust storm events over the western United States using meteorological, satellite, and air quality measurements, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 7847–7857, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-7847-2014, 2014.
Levin, E. J. T., McMeeking, G. R., DeMott, P. J., McCluskey, C. S., Stockwell, C. E., Yokelson, R. J., and Kreidenweis, S. M.: A new method to determine the number concentrations of refractory black carbon ice nucleating particles, Aerosol Sci. Technol., 48, 1264–1275, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2014.977843, 2014.
Li, J., Zhang, N., Tian, P., Zhang, M., Shi, J., Chang, Y., Zhang, L., Liu, Z., and Wang, Y.: Significant roles of aged dust aerosols on rapid nitrate formation under dry conditions in a semi-arid city, Environ. Pollut., 336, 122395, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122395, 2023.
Li, W., Zhou, Y., Zhang, W., Liu, D., Hu, T., Wu, F., Geng, H., and Zhang, D.: A review of water-soluble ions in natural dust particles over East Asia: abundance, spatial distributions, and implications, ACS ES&T Air, 2, 1379–1393, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.5c00014, 2026.
Liu, X., Turner, J. R., Hand, J. L., Schichtel, B. A., and Martin, R. V.: A global-scale mineral dust equation, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 127, e2022JD036937, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD036937, 2022.
Malm, W. C., Sisler, J. F., Huffman, D., Eldred, R. A., and Cahill, T. A.: Spatial and seasonal trends in particle concentration and optical extinction in the United States, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 1347–1370, https://doi.org/10.1029/93JD02916, 1994.
McCluskey, C. S., DeMott, P. J., Ma, P.-L., and Burrows, S. M.: Numerical representations of marine ice-nucleating particles in remote marine environments evaluated against observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 7838–7847, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL081861, 2019.
McCluskey, C. S., Gettelman, A., Bardeen, C. G., DeMott, P. J., Moore, K. A., Kreidenweis, S. M., Hill, T. C. J., Barry, K. R., Twohy, C. H., Toohey, D. W., Rainwater, B., Jensen, J. B., Reeves, J. M., Alexander, S. P., and McFarquhar, G. M.: Simulating Southern Ocean aerosol and ice nucleating particles in the Community Earth System Model Version 2, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 128, e2022JD036955, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD036955, 2023.
Meyers, M. P., DeMott, P. J., and Cotton, W. R.: New primary ice nucleation parameterizations in an explicit cloud model, J. Appl. Meteorol., 31, 708–721, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1992)031<0708:NPINPI>2.0.CO;2, 1992.
Moore, K. A., Hill, T. C. J., McCluskey, C. S., Twohy, C. H., Rainwater, B., Toohey, D. W., Sanchez, K. J., Kreidenweis, S. M., and DeMott, P. J.: Characterizing ice nucleating particles over the Southern Ocean using simultaneous aircraft and ship observations, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 129, e2023JD039543, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039543, 2024.
Morrison, H., Van Lier-Walqui, M., Fridlind, A. M., Grabowski, W. W., Harrington, J. Y., Hoose, C., Korolev, A., Kumjian, M. R., Milbrandt, J. A., Pawlowska, H., Posselt, D. J., Prat, O. P., Reimel, K. J., Shima, S., Van Diedenhoven, B., and Xue, L.: Confronting the challenge of modeling cloud and precipitation microphysics, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 12, e2019MS001689, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001689, 2020.
Murray, B. J., O'Sullivan, D., Atkinson, J. D., and Webb, M. E.: Ice nucleation by particles immersed in supercooled cloud droplets, Chem. Soc. Rev., 41, 6519–6539, https://doi.org/10.1039/c2cs35200a, 2012.
Nichman, L., Wolf, M., Davidovits, P., Onasch, T. B., Zhang, Y., Worsnop, D. R., Bhandari, J., Mazzoleni, C., and Cziczo, D. J.: Laboratory study of the heterogeneous ice nucleation on black-carbon-containing aerosol, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 12175–12194, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-12175-2019, 2019.
Niemand, M., Möhler, O., Vogel, B., Vogel, H., Hoose, C., Connolly, P., Klein, H., Bingemer, H., DeMott, P., Skrotzki, J., and Leisner, T.: A Particle-Surface-Area-Based Parameterization of Immersion Freezing on Desert Dust Particles, J. Atmos. Sci., 69, 3077–3092, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-11-0249.1, 2012.
Pan, B., Liu, D., Tian, P., Zhao, D., Du, Y., Li, S., Hu, K., Hu, D., Sun, B., Yu, C., Chen, Y., Li, W., Huang, M., Xu, H., and You, S.: Increased freezing temperature of clouds over China due to anthropogenic pollution, Geophys. Res. Lett., 51, e2024GL109086, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109086, 2024.
Pereira Freitas, G., Adachi, K., Conen, F., Heslin-Rees, D., Krejci, R., Tobo, Y., Yttri, K. E., and Zieger, P.: Regionally sourced bioaerosols drive high-temperature ice nucleating particles in the Arctic, Nat. Commun., 14, 5997, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41696-7, 2023.
Petters, M. D. and Wright, T. P.: Revisiting ice nucleation from precipitation samples, Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 8758–8766, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065733, 2015.
Phillips, V. T. J., DeMott, P. J., and Andronache, C.: An empirical parameterization of heterogeneous ice nucleation for multiple chemical species of aerosol, J. Atmos. Sci., 65, 2757–2783, https://doi.org/10.1175/2007JAS2546.1, 2008.
Pruppacher, H. R., Klett, J. D., and Wang, P. K.: Microphysics of Clouds and Precipitation, Aerosol Sci. Technol., 28, 381–382, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786829808965531, 1998.
Reicher, N., Budke, C., Eickhoff, L., Raveh-Rubin, S., Kaplan-Ashiri, I., Koop, T., and Rudich, Y.: Size-dependent ice nucleation by airborne particles during dust events in the eastern Mediterranean, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 11143–11158, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-11143-2019, 2019.
Ren, Y. Z., Bi, K., Fu, S. Z., Tian, P., Huang, M. Y., Zhu, R. H., and Xue, H. W.: The relationship of aerosol properties and ice-nucleating particle concentrations in Beijing, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 128, e2022JD037383, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD037383, 2023.
Richardson, M. S., DeMott, P. J., Kreidenweis, S. M., Petters, M. D., and Carrico, C. M.: Observations of ice nucleation by ambient aerosol in the homogeneous freezing regime, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L04804, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL041912, 2010.
Rivera Rivera, N. I., Gill, T. E., Gebhart, K. A., Hand, J. L., Bleiweiss, M. P., and Fitzgerald, R. M.: Wind modeling of Chihuahuan Desert dust outbreaks, Atmos. Environ., 43, 347–354, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.09.069, 2009.
Rogers, D. C., DeMott, P. J., Kreidenweis, S. M., and Chen, Y.: A continuous-flow diffusion chamber for airborne measurements of ice nuclei, J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol., 18, 725–741, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(2001)018<0725:ACFDCF>2.0.CO;2, 2001.
Schill, G. P., Jathar, S. H., Kodros, J. K., Levin, E. J. T., Galang, A. M., Friedman, B., Link, M. F., Farmer, D. K., Pierce, J. R., Kreidenweis, S. M., and DeMott, P. J.: Icenucleating particle emissions from photochemically aged diesel and biodiesel exhaust, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 5524–5531, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069529, 2016.
Schill, G. P., DeMott, P. J., Emerson, E. W., Rauker, A. M. C., Kodros, J. K., Suski, K. J., Hill, T. C. J., Levin, E. J. T., Pierce, J. R., Farmer, D. K., and Kreidenweis, S. M.: The contribution of black carbon to global ice nucleating particle concentrations relevant to mixed-phase clouds, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 117, 22705–22711, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2001674117, 2020.
Su, L., Yuan, Z., Fung, J. C. H., and Lau, A. K. H.: A comparison of HYSPLIT backward trajectories generated from two GDAS datasets, Sci. Total Environ., 506–507, 527–537, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.11.072, 2015.
Sullivan, R. C., Petters, M. D., DeMott, P. J., Kreidenweis, S. M., Wex, H., Niedermeier, D., Hartmann, S., Clauss, T., Stratmann, F., Reitz, P., Schneider, J., and Sierau, B.: Irreversible loss of ice nucleation active sites in mineral dust particles caused by sulphuric acid condensation, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 11471–11487, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-11471-2010, 2010.
Tan, J., Zhang, L., Zhou, X., Duan, J., Li, Y., Hu, J., and He, K.: Chemical characteristics and source apportionment of PM2.5 in Lanzhou, China, Sci. Total Environ., 601–602, 1743–1752, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.050, 2017.
Tian, P., Liu, D., Bi, K., Huang, M., Wu, Y., Hu, K., Li, R., He, H., Ding, D., Hu, Y., Liu, Q., Zhao, D., Qiu, Y., Kong, S., and Xue, H.: Evidence for anthropogenic organic aerosols contributing to ice nucleation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 49, e2022GL099990, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099990, 2022.
Tian, P., Zhang, N., Li, J., Fan, X., Guan, X., Lu, Y., Shi, J., Chang, Y., and Zhang, L.: Potential influence of fine aerosol chemistry on the optical properties in a semi-arid region, Environ. Res., 216, 114678, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114678, 2023.
Tobo, Y., DeMott, P. J., Hill, T. C. J., Prenni, A. J., Swoboda-Colberg, N. G., Franc, G. D., and Kreidenweis, S. M.: Organic matter matters for ice nuclei of agricultural soil origin, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 8521–8531, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-8521-2014, 2014.
Ullrich, R., Hoose, C., Möhler, O., Niemand, M., Wagner, R., Höhler, K., Hiranuma, N., Saathoff, H., and Leisner, T.: A New Ice Nucleation Active Site Parameterization for Desert Dust and Soot, J. Atmos. Sci., 74, 699–717, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-16-0074.1, 2017.
Villanueva, D., Stengel, M., Hoose, C., Bruno, O., Jeggle, K., Ansmann, A., and Lohmann, U.: Dust-driven droplet freezing explains cloud-top phase in the Northern Extratropics, Science, 389, 521–525, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adt5354, 2025.
Wagh, S., Singh, P., Ghude, S. D., Safai, P., Prabhakaran, T., and Kumar, P. P.: Study of ice nucleating particles in fog-haze weather at New Delhi, India: a case of polluted environment, Atmos. Res., 259, 105693, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105693, 2021.
Wang, M., Tian, P., Wang, L., Yu, Z., Du, T., Chen, Q., Guan, X., Guo, Y., Zhang, M., Tang, C., Chang, Y., Shi, J., Liang, J., Cao, X., and Zhang, L.: High contribution of vehicle emissions to fine particulate pollutions in Lanzhou, Northwest China based on high-resolution online data source appointment, Sci. Total Environ., 798, 149310, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149310, 2021.
Wang, Y., Li, J., Zhao, Y., Li, Y., Zhao, Y., and Wu, X.: Distinct diurnal cycle of supercooled water cloud fraction dominated by dust extinction coefficient, Geophys. Res. Lett., 49, e2021GL097006, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097006, 2022.
Wang, Y., Li, J., Fang, F., Zhang, P., He, J., Pöhlker, M. L., Henning, S., Tang, C., Jia, H., Wang, Y., Jian, B., Shi, J., and Huang, J.: In-situ observations reveal weak hygroscopicity in the Southern Tibetan Plateau: implications for aerosol activation and indirect effects, npj Clim. Atmos. Sci., 7, 77, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00629-x, 2024a.
Wang, Y., Yu, H., Li, L., Li, J., Sun, J., Shi, J., and Li, J.: Long-term trend of dust event duration over northwest China, Sci. Total Environ., 951, 175819, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175819, 2024b.
Wang, Y., Fang, F., Li, J., Zhang, P., Ji, Z., Shi, J., and Huang, J.: High effective supersaturation offsets low aerosol hygroscopicity to promote orographic cloud formation over the southern Tibetan Plateau, npj Clim. Atmos. Sci., 8, 231, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01119-4, 2025.
Wang, Y., Chai, T., Li, J., Feng, L., Jian, J., Huang, J., and McFarquhar, G. M.: Dust decline amplifies high-cloud ice-to-liquid transition and buffers the radiative feedback under warming, Geophys. Res. Lett., 53, e2026GL121917, https://doi.org/10.1029/2026GL121917, 2026.
Xu, J., Zhang, Q., Chen, M., Ge, X., Ren, J., and Qin, D.: Chemical composition, sources, and processes of urban aerosols during summertime in northwest China: insights from high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometry, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 12593–12611, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-12593-2014, 2014.
Yakobi-Hancock, J. D., Ladino, L. A., and Abbatt, J. P. D.: Feldspar minerals as efficient deposition ice nuclei, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 11175–11185, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11175-2013, 2013.
Yu, H., Wang, Y., Yuan, L., Kong, R., Han, S., Han, W., and Li, J.: Longer dust events over northwest China from 2015 to 2022, Atmos. Res., 304, 107365, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107365, 2024.
Zhang, C., Wu, Z., Chen, J., Chen, J., Tang, L., Zhu, W., Pei, X., Chen, S., Tian, P., Guo, S., Zeng, L., Hu, M., and Kanji, Z. A.: Ice-nucleating particles from multiple aerosol sources in the urban environment of Beijing under mixed-phase cloud conditions, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7539–7556, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7539-2022, 2022.
Zhao, B., Wang, Y., Gu, Y., Liou, K.-N., Jiang, J. H., Fan, J., Liu, X., Huang, L., and Yung, Y. L.: Ice nucleation by aerosols from anthropogenic pollution, Nat. Geosci., 12, 602–607, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0389-4, 2019.
Zhao, X., Jiang, K., Ou'yang, S., Li, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, J., Zhao, N., and Shen, G.: Global biomass burning emission contributions to ice nucleating particles, Geophys. Res. Lett., 51, e2024GL111881, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL111881, 2024.
Short summary
Our observations show that both local dust and dust carried over long distances can increase the number of particles that help form ice in clouds. Polluted air held fewer such particles and appears to weaken the ability of dust to initiate ice formation. In semi-arid cities, larger particles in the 1–2.5 µm range strongly indicate how many of these ice-forming particles are present. Understanding how different particles behave is essential for representing cloud glaciation and regional climate.
Our observations show that both local dust and dust carried over long distances can increase the...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint