For more than two centuries, scientists have been puzzled by observations of solar-climate variability and yet the lack of any established physical mechanism. Recent observations, although disputed, suggest that clouds may be influenced by cosmic rays, which are modulated by the solar wind. The CLOUD experiment aims to settle the question of whether or not cosmic rays exert a climatically-significant effect on clouds by carrying out an extensive programme of carefully-controlled experiments on aerosol and cloud microphysics in a large cloud chamber exposed to a beam from the CERN Proton Synchrotron. The chamber has achieved unprecedented low levels of contaminants, providing new insights on these processes. This talk will present the scientific motivation for CLOUD and initial results on the influence of trace atmospheric vapours and cosmic ray ionisation on the nucleation and growth of aerosol particles in the atmosphere to form cloud condensation nuclei. A first look at data from the fall 2013 campaign at CERN on the formation of liquid and ice clouds in the CLOUD chamber will also be presented.

Referent/in
Dr. Jasper Kirkby

Goethe-University of Frankfurt and CERN
CERN

Veranstalter
Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Hermann von Helmholtz Platz 1
76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen
Tel: 0721-608-0
E-Mail: sekretariat ∂does-not-exist.imk-asf kit edu

Zielgruppe
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeitende