The acidity of the atmosphere is increasingly determined by carbon dioxide and organic acids such as formic acid. The second of these contribute to the formation of aerosol particles as a precurso .
New Insight on Acid Formation can Help Refine Atmosphere and Climate Models
Atmospheric acidity is increasingly established by organic acids, like formic acid, and carbon dioxide.
The former contributes to the development of aerosol particles as a precursor of raindrops and thus affects the pH of rainwater and the growth of clouds.
Schematic of major emission sectors and primary emissions, meteorological and chemical processes, impacts to air quality and climate, and measurement and analysis tools used to analyze the effects of emissions changes. Image Credit: B. Franco et al, Ubiquitous atmospheric production of organic acids mediated by cloud droplets, Nature, May 2021.