Introduction to the Lecture

Atmospheric aerosols can participate in the heterogeneous activation process of ice crystals as ice-nucleating particles (INPs), affecting the microphysical properties of clouds, precipitation process and the existence time of clouds in the atmosphere, thus indirectly affecting the radiation balance and energy budget of the Earth system. The current understanding of the abundance, nature and source of INPs is limited, and the parameterization scheme based on direct measurement has yet to be improved. This report will review and discuss the research progress and future research needs of atmospheric INPs from the aspects of environmental effects, sources, properties, ice formation mechanism and measurement technology.

Profile of the Speaker

Wu Zhijun, Researcher at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Peking University, mainly studies the physical and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosols and their environmental impact, with a special focus on the moisture absorption, phase state and ice nucleation activity of atmospheric aerosols. He is currently in charge of the airborne multi-pollutants and cloud water chemistry high-sensitivity detection technology project in the national key research and development program and is responsible for the aerial survey of cloud microphysical properties and chemical components. He has won a second prize of the National Natural Science Award (ranked second) and a first prize of the Ministry of Education (ranked second).