Upper troposphere aerosol formation enhanced by monsoon lofted pollution

Williamson, C. J., Borrmann, S., Brauner, P., Brock, C. A., Campos, T., et al. (2026). Upper troposphere aerosol formation enhanced by monsoon lofted pollution. Nature Communications, doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-75073-x

Title Upper troposphere aerosol formation enhanced by monsoon lofted pollution
Genre Article
Author(s) C. J. Williamson, S. Borrmann, P. Brauner, C. A. Brock, Teresa Campos, T. Christoudias, F. D'Amato, A. Dragoneas, O. Eppers, Shawn B. Honomichl, M. Kohl, F. Kollner, A. Kupc, Y. R. Lee, M. Lyu, G. Michailoudi, Laura L. Pan, A. E. Perring, A. Pozzer, D. Simone, Warren P. Smith, H. Tost, R. Ueyama, Kirk Ullmann, V. Vakkari, S. Viciani, A. Virkkula, R. Weigel, Sarah Woods, C. Xenofontos
Abstract The Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) lofts air from polluted boundary layer regions to the upper-troposphere and lower-stratosphere. High concentrations of aerosols have been observed in ASM outflow, which influence climate by interacting with radiation and clouds and affecting atmospheric composition. Prior observations indicate that small particles form in ASM convective outflow. Laboratory and modelling studies hypothesise the importance of lofted ammonia in this process and growth of the particles to sizes where they can interact with radiation and clouds. Here we combine in-situ observation in ASM convective outflow with trajectory and Earth-system modelling to show the likely role of pollution in enhancing ASM outflow new particle formation. We show that the particles grow to sizes where they can interact with clouds and radiation, and are transported over large areas within the troposphere and stratosphere.
Publication Title Nature Communications
Publication Date Aug 1, 2026
Publisher's Version of Record https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-75073-x
OpenSky Citable URL https://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7pn9b7k
OpenSky Listing View on OpenSky
ACOM Affiliations ESS, ACRESP

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