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Summary:
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For the first time, researchers have proven that smoke from
forest fires inhibits rainfall. The findings, to be published in
the Oct. 15 issue of Geophysical Research Letters, are based on an
extensive analysis of data taken from NASA's Tropical Rainfall
Measuring Mission (TRMM) spacecraft.
The study shows that the "warm rain" processes that often
create rain in tropical clouds are practically shut off when the
clouds are polluted with heavy smoke from forest fires. In these
clouds, scientists found, the cloud tops must grow considerably
above the freezing level (16,000 feet) in order for them to start
producing rain by an alternative mechanism.
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In this animation, compare the two systems side by side. You can
see how the rain-producing cloud on the left is composed of larger
water droplets, making it easier for them to coalesce and fall out
as precipitation. On the right, notice how the smaller, nucleated
particles tend to remain apart, without forming larger drops. This
smoke-affected cloud will not produce rain.
Contact at NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX: John Ira Petty
281/483-5111.
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Brian.Dunbar@hq.nasa.gov
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