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Bacterial growth in supercooled cloud droplets
Author(s) -
Sattler Birgit,
Puxbaum Hans,
Psenner Roland
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl011684
Subject(s) - supercooling , cloud condensation nuclei , ice nucleus , astrobiology , cloud computing , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , cloud physics , condensation , environmental science , liquid water content , ice crystals , meteorology , geology , physics , nucleation , aerosol , computer science , thermodynamics , operating system
It is well known that the atmosphere is a conveyor of microorganisms, and that bacteria can act as ice or cloud condensation nuclei, but clouds have not been considered as a site where organisms can live and reproduce. Here we show that bacteria in cloud droplets collected at high altitudes are actively growing and reproducing at temperatures at or below 0°C. Since ∼60% of the earth surface is covered by clouds, cloud water should be considered as a microbial habitat.