How does an atmospheric aerosol particle become an ice crystal, and can we observe this transformation as it happens?

A new Tools of the Trade article by Dr. Devendra Pal, published in Nature Reviews Chemistry, highlights a McGill-developed experimental platform that provides a real-time view of aerosol-driven ice nucleation.

The McGill Real-Time Ice Nucleation Chamber (MRINC) integrates controlled atmospheric conditions and coupled with Nano-Digital In-line Holographic Microscopy (Nano-DIHM), enabling individual particles to be observed as they undergo condensation, freezing and growth. The approach provides particle-resolved information on phase, three-dimensional morphology, ice habit and surface roughness down to submicron scales.

These measurements address an important experimental challenge in atmospheric chemistry: directly observing the physicochemical evolution from ice-nucleating particle activation to ice-crystal formation. Such information can improve process-level understanding of cloud formation and how ice-cloud properties influence Earth’s radiative balance and climate.

The article, “Watching ice nucleation in real-time,” is published in Nature Reviews Chemistry. The article is available here: [Read the published article]