American Geophysical Union Become an AGU Member
Subscribe to AGU Journals		 AGU Home AGU Publications

Read Full Article    Cited by

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 28, NO. 2, PAGES 239–242, 2001

Bacterial Growth in Supercooled Cloud Droplets

Birgit Sattler

Institute of Zoology and Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Austria


Hans Puxbaum

Institute for Analytical Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Austria


Roland Psenner

Institute of Zoology and Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Austria


Abstract

It is well known that the atmosphere is a conveyor of microorganisms, and that bacteria can act as ice or cloud condensation nuclei, but clouds have not been considered as a site where organisms can live and reproduce. Here we show that bacteria in cloud droplets collected at high altitudes are actively growing and reproducing at temperatures at or below 0°C. Since ∼60% of the earth surface is covered by clouds, cloud water should be considered as a microbial habitat.

Received 12 April 2000; accepted 25 July 2000.

Read Full Article    Cited by

Citation: Sattler, B., H. Puxbaum, and R. Psenner (2001), Bacterial Growth in Supercooled Cloud Droplets, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28(2), 239–242.