Reading the Clouds to Understand Climate Change

TUE, OCT 22, 2013 (57:30)

Professor Cziczo discusses the science of clouds, particularly the cirrus clouds found at very high altitudes. He explains how particles (aerosols) in the atmosphere trigger cloud formation and what the presence of particular aerosols recently discovered suggest for a better understanding of climate change. This video includes footage from the Cziczo Lab in which Dr. Cziczo demonstrates how aerosols trigger cloud formation, and researchers in the lab explain how particles are collected and analyzed. Daniel Cziczo, PhD is the Victor P. Starr Career Development Associate Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

+ BIO: Daniel Cziczo

Daniel Cziczo is professor and head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University.

Dan Cziczo is an atmospheric scientist interested in the interrelationship of particulate matter and cloud formation. His research utilizes laboratory and field studies to elucidate how small particles interact with water vapor to form droplets and ice crystals which are important players in the Earth’s climate system. Experiments include using small cloud chambers in the laboratory to mimic atmospheric conditions that lead to cloud formation and observing clouds in situ from remote mountaintop sites or through the use of research aircraft.

+ BIO: Yvonne Stapp

Yvonne Stapp runs Science for the Public, a grassroots organization whose mission is to improve public understanding of science. Science is essential to the vitality of modern culture, and science depends on public commitment to the scientific community

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