“My colleague David Sands from Montana State University proposed the concept of ‘bioprecipitation’ over 25 years ago and few scientists took it seriously, but evidence is beginning to accumulate that supports this idea,” said Christner.
But, what makes this research more complicated is that most known ice-nucleating bacteria are plant pathogens. These pathogens, which are basically germs, can cause freezing injury in plants, resulting in devastating economic effects on agricultural crop yields.
“As is often the case with bacterial pathogens, other phases of their life cycle are frequently ignored because of the focused interest in their role in plant or animal health,” said Christner. “Transport through the atmosphere is a very efficient dissemination strategy, so the ability of a pathogen to affect its precipitation from the atmosphere would be advantageous in finding new hosts.”
It is possible that the atmosphere represents one facet of the infection cycle, whereby the bacteria infects a plant, multiplies, is aerosolized into the atmosphere and then delivered to a new plant through atmospheric precipitation.
“The role that biological particles play in atmospheric processes has been largely overlooked. However, we have found biological ice nuclei in precipitation samples from Antarctica to Louisiana – they’re ubiquitous. Our results provide an impetus for atmospheric scientists to start thinking about the role these particles play in precipitation,” said Christner. “This work is truly multi-disciplinary, bridging the disciplines of ecology, microbiology, plant pathology and climatology. It represents a completely new avenue of research and clearly demonstrates that we are just beginning to understand the intricate interplay between the planet’s climate and biosphere.”
Bacteria can be aerosolized
and lifted up into the atmosphere
and water droplets will form around them
and clouds then for a while have DNA.
Scientists can speculate that the clouds
are one link in the larger lifecycle
of the bacteria reproducing.
But anybody can speculate too
and wonder if the bacteria here
I mean on the ground in plants whatever
are one link in the larger lifecycle
of clouds reproducing making more clouds.
Bacteria can be aerosolized
and lifted up into the atmosphere
and water droplets will form around them
and clouds then for a while have DNA
like plants and like animals and like us.
If clouds have DNA something like us
as scientists maybe mad scientists
can we speculate looking up laughing
and wonder if we are something like clouds?
and lifted up into the atmosphere
and water droplets will form around them
and clouds then for a while have DNA.
Scientists can speculate that the clouds
are one link in the larger lifecycle
of the bacteria reproducing.
But anybody can speculate too
and wonder if the bacteria here
I mean on the ground in plants whatever
are one link in the larger lifecycle
of clouds reproducing making more clouds.
Bacteria can be aerosolized
and lifted up into the atmosphere
and water droplets will form around them
and clouds then for a while have DNA
like plants and like animals and like us.
If clouds have DNA something like us
as scientists maybe mad scientists
can we speculate looking up laughing
and wonder if we are something like clouds?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ice Nucleation As A Narrative
One Bluebird Between Sky Time And Mud Time
Clouds Want To Be A Secret Book
Waiting For Clouds
Somewhere Between Chicago And Paris
The Secret Laboratory Of Immutable Laughter
The Thunderous Glamour Of Batteries
The Thunderous Tragedy Of Batteries
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