Benzene and toluene in polar oceans have a biological origin, study finds

oldbrew

Feb 1

Natural aerosols, not 'human pollution'. Another climate assumption gets blown out of the water.
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In addition to oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide, the air we breathe contains small amounts of organic gases, such as benzene and toluene, says Phys.org.

These oxidize into small particles or aerosols that contribute to the condensation of water in the droplets that form clouds.

Now, a study by the Institut de Cièncias del Mar (ICM-CSIC), the Instituto de Química Física Rocasolano (IQFR-CSIC) and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) stresses the importance of clouds, which filter solar radiation, for understanding past and future climate changes.

"If we don't get the clouds right, we won't get the climate right," says Charel Wohl, ICM-CSIC researcher and lead author of the study. "We are just beginning to unveil the multiple ingredients that form cloud seeds," he adds.

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