Surprising Clouds Forming Due to Lead in Air

nationalgeographic ^ | April 19, 2009 | Brian Handwerk

[JoeProBono]

Lead in the air is causing clouds in odd conditions—in conditions typically too warm and dry for cloud formation—according to scientists who've "bottled" clouds and even grown their own.

Driven mainly by industrial lead-dust emissions, lead-heavy clouds could change weather patterns and might actually help fight global warming, the study suggests.

Researchers collected cloud samples atop a Swiss mountain and found that about half of their ice crystals contained lead. Then, by building artificial clouds in laboratory chambers, the team determined that lead actually causes ice crystals to form.

Clouds formed in warmer, drier air when lead was present, the team found. The element "supercharges" the dust particles at the cores of most cloud crystals, according to the new study.

[JoeProBono]

Researchers collected cloud samples atop a mountain and found that about half of their ice crystals contained lead. Then, by building artificial clouds in laboratory chambers, the team determined that lead actually causes ice crystals to form.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Hmmm. And here I thought that ‘Spring was in the air’ this time of year. Turns out it’s just lead.

[EGPWS]

Hmmm. And here I thought that ‘Spring was in the air’ this time of year. Turns out it’s just lead.

We need to get the lead out. ; )

Is there a batch of defective catalytic converters?

[dhm914]

will re-introduction of leaded gasoline stop the global warming we all fear???? we are learning new stuff all the time on weather. the scince is settled??????

[KarlInOhio]

Researchers collected cloud samples atop a mountain and found that about half of their ice crystals contained lead.

With how good our detection methods are, I'm surprised it is not 100% containing some lead.

Then, by building artificial clouds in laboratory chambers, the team determined that lead actually causes ice crystals to form.

How much lead is required to change the cloud formation? How large do the lead crystals have to be? How does that compare to the amounts found in natural ice crystals? Has cloud formation been reduced since the US largely abandoned leaded gas? Is aviation fuel still leaded and how does that affect contrail formation?

Lots of questions, just about none answered by the article.

[knarf]

Well ... they've tried abortion, wars, presently it's the economy ... maybe they can make idiots out of our children without the NEA .. ?

[absolootezer0]

Hmmm. And here I thought that ‘Spring was in the air’ this time of year. Turns out it’s just lead.

eh, its both. once spring is is the air its finally warm enough to get out and do some real shooting, that's when the lead comes out.

[JohnCliftn]

Good point. But the kids are thwarting them!

Also, consider Sat Morning TV and kiddie channel Internet -- its defect is the repugnant theme, but its asset is that it is so boring the kids sneak out and play.