Aerosol Formation Over Siberian Boreal Forest Greater Than Previously Thought, Heat Wave Data Reveals [Study]

Aerosol, also called atmospheric aerosol particles, pertains to solid or liquid droplets that are suspended in the air. These particles can either be produced by natural or anthropogenic causes. In the past, these atmospheric droplets have often been compared with greenhouse gases since they can also alter Earth's climate and damage the environment.

One might think that the term "aerosol" only refers to the commercial spray that we use. However, they are far more than that. In recent years, health authorities warned that inhalation of fine particulate matter such as aerosols from fossil fuel burning can lead to health problems, particularly in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Aerosol particles are common in urban areas but they can also be found in every ecosystem of the world, ranging from oceans to deserts, mountains, and forests. Although there are some places where this fine particulate matter is rare, anthropogenic emissions prove otherwise. One such case is Siberia, where previous studies have suggested that particle formation is not common.

However, a new study published this year found that aerosol formation over Siberia has been detected and its particles are great in quantity, which is larger than previously thought. Researchers arrived at their findings with the help of Siberia heat wave data, revealing that the Siberian boreal forest has the potential for enhanced particle formation.

What are the Sources of Aerosols?

Aerosols, as mentioned earlier, can be generated by natural or anthropogenic means. This entails that geochemical, weather, and other phenomena of nature can produce the fine particulate matter or PM2.5, which scientists describe as particles with the size of 2.5 microns or less in diameter. Meanwhile, industrial-level human activities can be sources of the hazardous particles as well.

In a 2013 research article published in Nature Education, scientists acknowledge that the uncertainties in our understanding of the effects of aerosols limit our knowledge of climate change. However, they assert that atmospheric aerosols coming from human activity influence Earth's climate.

The combination of human-induced atmospheric aerosols and similar particles from natural phenomena as mentioned below serve as the main sources of this type of PM2.5:

• Volcanic eruptions
• Sea spray
• Desert storms
• Savannah biomass burning
• Coal power plants
• Ships
• Cooking
• Road transport

Siberia Aerosol Formation

In the study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters on January 9, a team of researchers explored an unprecedented rate of aerosol formation discovered in the Siberian boreal forest, covering a land area of 6 million km2.

Particle formation in boreal forests has been reported to form through a "gas-to-particle conversion" known as new particle formation. Previously, scientists thought that aerosol formation in this type of ecosystem is relatively low.

However, the January 2024 study concludes that the combination of biogenic and anthropogenic factors caused unexpectedly high monthly new particle formation frequency by 50%. This process is increased or intensified under heat wave conditions or under a warming climate.